IsHUfil  Wfckly  by  the  Hikk  Hook  Company,  37  Vandowiitrr  Sln-i-t.     Siifmcrliillnri  l'nc<-,  $^.M  jht  yi-iir. 
Knlered  at  the  New  York  Post  OOlce  as  second-olaM  matter,  April,  lnao. 


yph  III -No.  26,     New  Yopk,  Septemher  26, 1896,    Priee  S  Cents. 

CAPTAIN  JACK,  THE  UNION  SPY; 


OR, 


IN  VICKSBURG  AND  OUT. 


By  HAROLD    T.    ORAY. 


'LKT  GO    vor  VILLAIN*!'  EXCLAIMED  JACK  IN  DESPERATION,  AS  HE  PLANTBD 
r:z  FOOT  IN  THE  SECOND  SCOUNDREL  FACE. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


Captain  Jack,  the  Union  Spy; 

— OR,— 

IX  rrcKSBUBo  and  out. 


BY  HAROLD  T.    GRAY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE     BATTLE. 

"To  arms!  to  aryis,  boys!  They're 
coiuing  like  tlie  whirlwind!" 

Such  was  tlie  ominous  cry  with  which 
Ca|>tain  Jack  Stanley  summoned  to- 
gether liis  compatiy  of  raw  troops. 

Before  his  men  were  fairly  out  of  their 
tents  tlie  gray  lines  of  Confederate  sol- 
diers were  seen  advancinj;  throuj^h  the 
thick  woods  in  front  of  the  Union  carnp, 
joining  in  a  deadly  fire  as  they  pressed 
forward. 

Jack  seized  his  sword  and,  undaunted 
by  the  wild  confusion  and  terror  which 
swayed  hi<  men  and  the  Union  forces  all 
about  them,  rallied  his  company  and 
made  ready  to  withstand  the  awful  on- 
slaught. 

The  enemy's  attack  was  a  complete 
surprise. 

Tlie  Union  soldiers  had  small  thought 
of  a  battle,  and  liad  been  lounging  about 
their  tents  in  a  manner  characteristic  of 
Sunday  morning. 

Many  of  them  had  not  been  in  a  gen- 
eral engagement,  and  tlie  first  smell  of 
powder  and  the  sight  of  the  determined 
rebel  line  filled  their  minds  with  fear  and 
caused  a  large  number  to  turn  ou  their 
heels  and  llee  to  the  rear. 

Captain  Stanley's  words,  however, 
called  many  of  the  older  heads  to  their 
senses,  and  before  the  adva-icing  line  had 
reached  the  Union  camp  tlie  iatter's  bat- 
tle line  had  been  formed  and  a  stubborn 
defense  Oegun. 

"  Grive  it  to  'eiu,  boys!"  Captain  Stan- 
ley cried  to  his  men  above  the  rattle  of 
musketry  that  was  becoming  louder  every 
instant;  "  we'll  show  'em  how  to  fight!'' 

Like  a  rock  he  stood  before  his  men, 
and  with  his  sword  in  one  hand  and  his 
revolver  in  the  other,  urged  them  to 
maintain  their  position. 

But  a  mountain  could  scarcely  have 
withstood  that  rusiiiug  charge. 

Like  demons  bent  on  the  work  of  total 
annihilation  tlie  gray  lines  came  on. 

Suddenly  from  a  neighboring  hillock  a 
battery  of  artillery  openeil  its  destructive 
fire  on  the  Union  troops  and  seemed  to 
direct  all  its  energies  against  the  brave 
little  company  that  held  its  place  while 
the  troops  on  all  sides  of  it  were  rapidly 
—treating. 


The  brave  men  fell  one  by  one  untfl 
nearly  half  their  number  luy  prostrate  oii 
jLhe  ground.  ♦ 

Captain  Stanley  finally  saw  the  utter 
uselessness  of  trying  to  maintain  his 
position,  but  was  too  determined  io  give 
up  the  fight. 

Writh  flashing  eyes  he  quickly  raised 
his  sword  above  his  head,  and  jn  avoice 
that  seemed  to  ring  down  the  lines  like 
the  roar  of  a  cannon,  he  sliouted: 

"Forward,  boys!  Follow  me!  Don't 
let  'em  say  they  took  our  camp!" 

Without  waiting  to  see  if  his  men  fol- 
lowed he  rushed  straight  against  the  en 
emy's  column. 

Half  a  dozen  brave  fellows  who  could 
not  withstand  the  force  of  their  leader's 
example  rushed  after  hiui  and  tried  to 
stem  the  advancing  flood,  but  it  was 
useless. 

On  the  gray  lines  came,  until  Captain 
Jack  was  forced  back  beyond  his  camp 
and  was  compelled  to  see  ihe  enemy  take 
his  flags  into  their  possession. 

■'  Boys!"  he  shouted  again,  "  they  must 
not  take  those  flags.  Remember  how  we 
promised  to  defend  them  when  they  were 
presented  to  us  when  we  ieft  home,  and 
let's  after  them  with  htarts  of  steel. 
Come,  follow  me!" 

HTs  band  rallied  at  this  call,  and  the 
surrounding  troops,  catching  his  indom- 
itable spirit,  pre.ssed    forward  once  more. 

He  led  them  straight  toward  the  cus- 
todians of  the  captured  flags,  and  while 
the  enemy  stood,  amazed  at  his  daring, 
he  struck  down  with  his  sword  the  men 
who  carried  them,  and  snatching  up  the 
loved  standards,  he  slowly  retreated. 

Not  without  loss  of  blood,  however,  for 
down  his  left  arm  there  trickled  a  stream 
of  red  that  told  only  too  plainly  that  a 
bullet  had  found  lodgment  there. 

In  spite  of  the  persuasioils  of  his  men 
he  would  not  go  to  the  rear,  but  with  his 
handkerchief  bound  tightly  about  the 
wounded  member  he  stood  his  ground. 

But  the  overpowering  force  of  numbers 
soon  made  it  impossible  for  the  Union 
foi-ces  to  longer  attempt  to  stay  the 
progress  of  the  rebel  lines. 

The  Confederates  swarmed  out  of  the 
woods  like  bees  and  rushed  forward  to 
the  assault  with  all  the  ardor  of  men  al- 
ready flushed  with  victory. 

Their  batteries,  too,  soon  opened  a 
terrific  fire  and  filled  the  air  with  explod- 
ing shells  and  hurtling  cannon-balls. 

No  human  force  could  have  withstood 
that  awful  charge,  and  Captain  Jack  at 
last,  seeing  the  utter  folly  of  trying  to 
keep  up  a  show  of  resistance,  gave  the 
order  to  retire  slowly. 

Before  the  line  had  retreated  one  hun- 
dred yards,  Ralph  Hadly,  a  sergeant  iu 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


Jack  Stanley's  company,  whom  the 
young  captain  had  looked  upon  with  a 
great  deal  of  favor,  suddenly  fell,  pierced 
ihroufjh  the  breast  with  a  bullet. 

Captain  Jack  saw  liiin  fall,  and  in- 
stantly made  up  his  mind  to  prevent  the 
body  from  falling  into  the  hands  cf  the 
enemy. 

Though  his  face  was  of  an  ashen  hue 
anil  his  strength  well-nigb  spent  from 
the  effects  of  his  own  wound,  he  turned 
to  his  men,  and  in  a  comnianding  voice 
ordered  them  to  halt  and  advance. 

They  were  slow  to  obey  his  orders,  bat 
he  waiteil  not  for  support. 

Casting  aside  his  sword  he  bounded 
forward  amid  the  fearful  fusilla<le  in 
front  of  him,  and  catching  the  sergeant's 
body  in  his  arms  made  his  way  back 
almost  to  his  own  line. 

Hut  the  effort  was  too  great  for  him, 
for  before  he  had  barely  reached  cover 
he  suddenly  threw  his  unencumbered 
arm  into  the  air  and  di"oppiug  his  bur- 
ilen  at  the  same  moment  sunk  to  the 
earth  with  a  groan. 

*'  Sa,ve  me,  boys,  save  me!"  he  gasped, 
as  his  closing  eyes  caught  sight  of  the 
advancing  gray  lines. 


CHAPTER  II. 

IN  A  CONFEDERATE   HOME. 

Captain  .Tack  Stanley  enlisted  in  ah 
Ohio  regiment  abont  six  months  before 
^he  scene  described  in  the  pTeceding 
chapter. 

He  had  left  his  home  and  his  old 
mother,  whose  only  support  he  was,  al- 
most at  tiie  first  call  to  arms,  and  pledged 
his  strength  and  life  to  the  defense  of 
his  country. 

A  young  man  of  indomitable  courage 
fl,nd  widespread  popularity,  the  company 
a£  which  he  became  a  member  were  not 
long  in  chosing  him  for  their  captain, 
and  as  such  he  had  thus  far  led  the  gal- 
lant little  l^and  with  unexampled  skill 
and  bi-averj-. 

His  many  acts  of  kindness  and  consid- 
eration, moreover,  had  endeared  his 
men  to  him.  and  when  they  saw  him  fall 
on  the  field  of  battle,  after  conducting 
audi  a  gallant  defense,  to  a  man  they 
halted  in  their  i-etreat,  and  with  the  en- 
ergy of  fiends  once  more  dashed  forward 
io  his  rescue. 

A  sharp  straggle  ensued,  and  then  the 
rebels,  as  if  in  admiration  of  the  devo- 
tion of  the  little  band  to  its  heroic  cap- 
tain, slowly  fell  back  and  allowed  the 
two  wounded  men  to  be  carried  from  the 
deld. 

A  surgeon  was  quickly  summoned  to 
>ti.ck  s  side,_and  after  a  cursory  examina- 


tion     pronounced       him      dangerously 
wounded. 

Indeed,  he  was  already  beginning  to 
show  signs  of  delirium,  and  as  the  only 
hope  of  saving  his  life  the  surgeon  or- 
dered him  to  be  taken  to  some  quiet 
house  in  the  vicinity. 

An  orderly  was  at  once  sent  out  in 
quest  of  the  desired  retreat,  accompanied 
by  Jack  in  an  ambulance. 

A  ride  across  the  fields  soon  took  them 
out  of  range  of  the  battle  and  to  a  sub- 
stantial country-house. 

The  orderly  knocked  at  the  door,  and 
in  a  polite  manner  asked  to  be  allowed  a 
single  room  in  the  house  for  his  wounded 
captain. 

An  old  colored  servant  ushered  him 
into  the  drawing-room,  where  two  young 
Southern  girls  and  an  elderly  lady  stood 
gazing  out  of  the  window  at  the  smoke 
arising  from  the  distant  battle-field. 

"This  is  a  Confederate  home,"  said 
Rachel  Wilson,  the  elder  of  the  two  girls,, 
in  reply  to  the  orderly's  request,  "and 
no  \ankee  officer  can  enter  it  without. 
force." 

"But,  miss,  he  is  dying,  I  fear,  and  he- 
was  as  brave  as  a  lion  all  day  in  the  bat- 
tle. Won't  you  please  give  him  quarters 
for  a  day  or  two?"  / 

"A  Yankee  officer,  I  care  not  how 
brave,  c<innot  find  a  retreat  in  a  home 
which  his  army  would  only  too  willingly 
devastate  and  destroy  because  we  are 
rebels."  And  the  young  woman  moved 
haughtily  away. 

Her  younger  sister  had  been  of  the 
same  spirit,  but  the  young  orderly  turned 
such  a  beseeching  look  upon  her'tJiat  bhe 
quickly  went  to  her  sister's  side  and, 
begged  that  the  young  officer  be  allowed 
to  come  in. 

*"  I'll  ^ive  him  my  oAvn  ro<om,"  sh«  said, 
in  her  eagerness. 

"You  had   better  let  him 
added  the  elderly  lady, 

"Yes,  that's  what  I  say,  auntie," plead- 
ed Teddy,  the  younger  sister. 

"  Well,  if  he  must  come  in,  let  him. 
But  remember,  it  is  not  with  my  con- 
sent," And  Rachel  walked  from  the 
room  in  anger. 

Accordingly  Captain  Jack  was  carried 
carefully  up  into  one  of  those  large,  airy 
upper  rooms  in  which  Southern  homes 
abound  and  placed  on  a  couch,  attended 
by  the  orderly. 

A  surgeon  soon  after  called  and  dressed 
his  wounds,  but  held  oat  scani  hopes  for 
his  living. 

For  two  dajs  Jack's  life  hung  by  a 
thread. 

Finally  toward   evening  on    the   third 
day  it  seemed  as  if  he  must  quickly  die. 
■    Rachel   Wilson   during  this  time  had 


come    in,' 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


not  entered  his  room,  but  when  Teddy 
came  to  her  just  at  dusk  and  told  her 
that  the  young  capt»in  was  dying  she 
eonsented  to  go  to  his  side. 

Slowly  and  alone  she  entered  the  room 
and  approached  the  couch  of  the 
wounded  hero,  and  then  for  a  long  time 
stood  looking  down  into  his  handsome 
face  through  the  twilight. 

Touched  by  pity  for  his  sufferings  she 
placed  her  soft  hand  on  his  hot  brow  and 
smoothed  back  the  raven  locks  that  hung 
over  it. 

Suddenly    Jack's     great     black     eyes 
slowlv   opened  and  a  faint  smile  over- 
spread   his    handsome    features    as    he 
brpathed: 
•'Mother!" 

Frohi  that  hour  Rachel  became  his  con- 
stant nurse  and  from  that  hour  Jack 
begun  to  grow  better. 

In  a  week  he  was  on  his  feet  and  able 
to  go  down-stairs,  and  in  two  weeks  he 
was  almost  himself  again. 

He  longed  once  more  to  rejoin  his  com- 
mand and  march  to  the  front,  but  Rachel 
would  hear  of  no  such  proceedings  until 
he  was  thoroughly  recovered. 

It  may  have  been  his  bravery,  it  may 
have  been  his  beauty,  it  may  have  been 
his  suffering— who  can  tell  ?  Certainly 
something  had  recently  occurred  to  cause 
Rachel  to  cherish  a  tender  feeling  for  the 
young  officer,  and  when,  on  the  day  be- 
fore Jack  was  to  quit  the  house  to  rejoin 
his  comrades  they  found  themselves  to- 
gether. Jack  broached  the  subject  of  his 
gratitude  for  her  kindness,  and  ended  .by 
offering  her  his  love. 

In  her  shy  Southern  way  she  told  him 
that  ostensibly  she  was  engaged  to  her 
cousin,  a  young  Confederate  oflficer, 
whom  she  did  not  love,  and  finally  ad- 
mitted in  answer  to  Jack's  entreaties  that 
lier  heart  was  all  his  own  and  had  been 
since  she  had  first  touched  his  hot  brow 
when  he  was  supposed  to  be  dying. 

"But  I  cannot  marry  you  for  a  long, 
long  time,"  she  said,  naively. 

"No,"  answered  Jack;  "I  would  not 
ask  you  to  do  that.  My  country  needs 
all  my  heart  at  present;  but  when  this 
cruel  war  is  ended  I  will  come  to  claim 
you  for  my  wife.     And  you  will  be  so?" 

•'Yes,"  she  whispered,  as  Jack  folded 
her  in  his  arms. 

"  No,  by  heaven,  you  shall  not!"  cried 
a  tall  young  Confederate  officer,  advanc- 
ing into  the  room.  "This  man  is  a 
sneak!" 

"  Fred,  how  dare  you!"  cried  Rachel, 
with  flaming  eyes. 

"How  dare  1?  By  the  law  of  war.  I 
am  a  Confederate  officer  and  will  see  that 
luy  will  is  carried  out."  And  Fred  Jack- 
son drew  his  sword,  and  calling  fr^m  an 


adjoining  room  two  tough-looking  gray- 
coats,  he  ordered  them  to  seize  and  bind 
Captain  Jack. 

"  Never!"  cried  Jack,  as  he  retreated  a 
step  and  prepared  to  fight. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SENTENCED  TO   DEATH. 

A  momentary  struggle  only  was  nec- 
essary to  overcome  Jack  in  his  weakened 
condition.  He  was  placed  in  a  chair, 
and  the  two  Confederate  soldiers  with 
drawn  weapons  stood  guard  over  him. 

For  a  moment  Jack  remained  silent, 
then  turning  his  piercing  eyes  on  Rachel, 
said: 

"  Is  this  a  trick?" 

"No,  Jack,"  she  made  haste  to  reply. 
"  I  do  not  know  by  what  means  he  came 
here;  I  do  know  that  I  had  no  hand  in 
his  coming." 

"But  we  are  within  Union  lines  and 
this  man  is  a  Confederate  officer." 

"  A  word  of  explanation  may  suffice  to 
gratify  the  curiosity  of  this  Yankee  inter- 
loper in  a  true  Southern  home.  I  have 
come  here  with  these  two  companions  to 
spend  my  furlough  because  this  is  my 
home  and  this  woman  here  is  to  be  my 
wife.  I  came  under  cover  of  darkness, 
and  thus  escaped  captureat  the  hands  of 
your  fellow-minions." 

"Fred,  you  are  forgetting  yourself.  In 
the  absence  of  my  brother  I  am  mistress 
here.  You  have  no  right  to  enter  here 
and  thus  violate  the  sacredness  of  this 
home.  I  command  you  to  let  that  man 
free!" 

"You  speak  harshly,  Rachel.  More- 
over, I  do  not  feel  inclined  to  obey  your 
command  since  this  man  is  not  only  my 
country's  enemy,  but  also  my  rival  in 
love.  I  intend  to  deal  with  him  sum- 
marily." 

"  Don't  you  dare  to  harm  a  hair  of  his 
head!"  cried  Rachel,  her  Southern  spirit 
beginning  to  manifest  itself. 

"  Leave  that  to  me!"  sarcastically  re- 
plied the  young  Confederate;  then  turn- 
ing to(  the  two  guards,  he  continued: 
"Take  the  fellow  to  his  room  and  keep 
him  there  till  I  give  you  further  orders." 

Jack  was  accordingly  escorted  irom 
the  drawing-room  without  any  show  of 
resistance,  for  he  saw  it  was  useless  to 
combat  with  the  two  strong  men  in 
charge  of  him.  When  he  reached  his 
room  his  threw  himself  on  his  couch  and 
tried  to  form  some  plan  by  which  he 
could  free  himself. 

Meanwhile  Rachel  and  her  cousin  were 
having  a  spirited  debate  below-stairs. 

"  My  pretty  young  cousin,  so  this  is 
the  way  you  are  conducting  yourself  ia 
your  brother's  absence,  is  it?" 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


"That  is  my  business,  Fred  Jaclison, 
and  it  will  be  my  brother's  to  reprimand 
this  insolence  when  he  returns.'' 

"Your  brother  will  be  here  shortly. 
To-morrow's  sun  will  see  the  Confed- 
erates advancing  upon  the  Union  lines, 
and  if  all  goes  well  the  hireling  Yanks 
will  be  swept  out  of  sight,  and  this  man 
whom  you  have  quartered  here  and  made 
your  hero,  will  be  one  of  the  spoils  of 
war." 

"You're  a  coward  and  a  knave,  Fred 
Jackson,  and  I  hate  you,"  and  with  an 
indignant  toss  of  the  head,  Rachel  swept 
out  of  the  room. 

"Ah,  ha.  my  pretty  one!  so  you  are  in 
high  dudgeon,  eh?  Well,  we  shall  see 
how  you  act  in  twelve  hours  from  now," 
and  as  he  spoke  he  moved  toward  the 
door. 

Suddenly  the  dull  boom  of  a  cannon 
fell  on  his  ear,  then  another  ana  another. 

"They've  begun  the  fight  already. 
May  it  be  a  victory  I""ejacu!ated  Jackson, 
as  he  sprung  toward  a  window  and  gazed 
out. 

"  A  night  attack,  by  heaven!  Weshall 
whip  them,  sure!" 

The  dull  roar  of  artillery  was  soon  fol- 
lowed by  the  sound  of  screeching  shells 
and  the  long  rattle  of  musketry,  and  in  a 
short  time  it  was  easy  to  tell  that  a  terrific 
contest  was  on. 

For  a  while  it  was  difficult  to  tell  which 
way  the  battle  was  going,  but  when  the 
oound  of  the  engagement  begun  to  grow 
closer  and  closer,  and  now  and  then 
scattered  bodies  of  men  in  blue  were  seen 
in  gloom  making  their  way  in  full  re- 
treat, it  was  plain  that  the  Union  forces 
were  suffering  a  reverse. 

Jack,  in  his  room  with  the  two  guards 
near  him,  was  in  a  fever  of  impatience. 

From  the  sounds  outside  he  knew  that 
an  engagement  was  being  fought,  and 
his  martial  spirit  urged  him  fiercely  to 
the  conflict. 

Finally,  he  could  stand  it  no  longer, 
and  bounding  from  his  couch  he  shot 
between  his  guards  and  out  of  the  door 
like  a  flash. 

He  flew  down  the  stairs  and  dashed 
into  the  drawing-room  where  he  sudden- 
ly brought  up  before  Rachel. 

"Jack,  what's  the  matter?"  she  cried 
in  alarm,  as  she  saw  his  white  face. 

"  My  sword  and  cap!"  he  exclaimed,  in 
a  broken  voice,  "where  are  they?  I  must 
go  and  help  them.  See,"  and  he  pointed 
through  the  window  where  in  the  dusk 
long  lines  of  Union  troops  could  be 
seen  in  full  retreat,  "  They  are  falling 
back.  Let  me  go  and  lead  them  to  vic- 
tory." 

"Jack,"  she  said  quietly,  laying  one 
hand  on  his  shoulder  and  leading  him  to 


a  chair,  "you're  ill  and  cannot  leave  this 
house." 

As  she  spoke  he  fell  into  a  seat,  over- 
couje  by  his  exertions. 

By  this  time  his  guards  had  reached 
the  lower  room  and  advancing  upon  the 
stricken  man  were  about  to  drag  him 
back  to  his  prison  when  Rachel  inter- 
posed. 

"Don't  you  dare  to  touch  him!"  she 
cried,  rushing  in  front  of  them  with 
flashing  eyes,  "I'll  be  responsible  for  his 
safe-keeping." 

She  had  scarcely  finished  speaking 
before  there  was  a  loud  clatter  without 
and  the  next  instant  Fred  Jackson 
rushed  into  the  room,  followed  by  two 
Confederate  troopers. 

"We've  won,  boys!"  he  exclaimed,  his 
cheeks  aglow  with  excitemeiit.  "The 
Yankee  hirelings  are  in  full  retreat  and 
our  lines  already  encircle  this  house. 
That  man  is  a  prisoner  and  a  spy,  boys. 
Take  him  away,  guard  him  well  and  at 
to-morrow's  dawn  shoot  him  down  like  a 
dog!" 

At  these  words  Rachel  fell  in  a  dead 
faint,  while  Jack  suffered  himself  to  be 
led  away  to  his  dooni  without  a  word  of 
protest. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

ESCAPED. 

Captain  Jack's  prison  was  a  small  out- 
house in  the  rear  of  the  Wilson  home- 
stead. 

When  first  thrown  into  it  he  for  a  long 
time  lay  in  one  corner,  scarcely  conscious 
of  his  surroundings. 

Finally  he  roused  himself  with  an  ef- 
fort and  peered  out  through  a  small 
opening  in  the  side  of  the  structure. 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight  night,  and 
here  and  there  in  the  vicinity  were  seen 
the  smouldering  embers  of  the  camp-fires 
of  the  victorious  Confederates. 

Before  the  building  stood  a  guard  so 
motionless  that  he  appeared  to  be  asleep. 

Jack  was  about  to  attract  his  attention 
when  suddenly  he  heard  the  lock  turn  in 
the  door. 

Before  he  could  face  about  it  was 
swung  open  and  a  slight,  little  figure 
glided  into  the  room,  closing  the  door 
behind  it. 

One  glance  was  all  that  Jack  needed  to 
tell  him  who  it  was. 

"Rachel!"  he  gasped,  folding  her  in  his 
arms  and  implanting  a  kiss  on  her  lips, 
"have  you  ventured  hex-e  to  bid  me 
good  by?" 

"No,'' she  whispered,  tremblingly;  "I 
have  come  to  save  you." 

"But  how?    I  am  surrounded   by  ea- 


6 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


emies  and  can  never  hope  to  get  through 
their  lines." 

'•  ru  find  a  way,  Jack,"  she  replied, 
confidently. 

"But  how  did  you  get  by  the  guard 
outside  V" 

"  I  sent  Mose  to  him  with  an  abun- 
dance of  food,  in  which  was  also  a 
sleeping  draught,  in  order  that  the 
poor  fellow  might  overload  his  stomach 
and  possibly  fall  asleep.  He  has  just 
done  so." 

In  spite  of  his  dangerous  position  Jack 
could  not  repress  a  smile. 

"Now  for  yourself.  Jack,  for  we  must 
hurrj'.  1  want  you  to  leave  here  and  go 
straight  back  to  the  stables.  Keep  in 
the  dark  as  much  as  possible.  When 
you  get  to  the  stables  you  will  see  Mose, 
and  he  will  lead  you  through  the  woods 
beyond  our  lines  and  then  give  you  a 
horse.  Ride  then  for  your  life  in  tiae 
direction  he  points  out  to  j'ou." 

For  answer  Jack  iu\printed  a  kiss  on 
the  brave  young  girPs  upturned  lips. 

"And  now  good  by,  Jack!" 

"  But  I  shall  see  you  again?" 

"Yes,  when  the  war  is  over,  as  I  trust 
it  soon  will  be,  I  shall  expect  to  see  you. 
Jack."  • 

"And  you  shall  also  expect  to  become 
my  wife?" 

A  naive  smile  was  Rachel's  answer. 

"Go  now,  Jack,"  she  whispered,  "and 
mav  Grod  be  with  j'ou  and  protect  you!" 

A  farewell  kiss  followed  and  then  Jack 
shot  by  the  still-sleepingguarda:;d  n)ade 
his  way  to  the  stables,  while  Rachel 
closed  and  locked  the  door  of  the  out- 
house and  then  returned  to  her  home. 

Jack  sped  with  all  the  haste  he  dared 
to  the  stables,  where  he  was  soon  joined 
by  Mose. 

"Dis  way,  Massa  Jack!"  whispered 
Mose,  and  the  next  inoment  he  was  lead- 
ing tlie  Union  captain  into  a  dark  growth 
of  underbrush. 

"  Hev  ter  be  keerf  ul  purty  soon,"  Mose 
whispered,  after  they  had  traveled  about 
half  a  mile.  "Confed'rates  hab  der  lines 
'roun'  heah  somewhar,  an"  'twon't  do  ter 
run  nigh  o'  any  pickets." 

These  words  were  scarcely  out  of  the 
colored  guide's  mouth  before  a  rustling 
to  the  right  told  them  that  danger  was 
near. 

"  Drop  down !"*said  Mose  to  Jack  as  a 
gray-coaled  picket  turned  his  head  to- 
ward where  the  two  stood. 

The  noise  they  made,  however,  was 
sufficient  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
picket  and  he  at  once  starred  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  cowering  couple. 

"  He's  seed  us!"  whispered  Mose,  "an' 
you'll  hev  ter  git.  Wiien  I  grapples  him 
you  light  out  an'  keep  straight   through 


here  to  the  road.  Dar  you'll  find  a  horse 
ready.  Take  'im  an'  ride  norf  ez  fast  ez 
you  kin,  fer  dey'U  be  after  yer  like  blood- 
houn's." 

*Mose  had  scarcely  finished  before  the 
picket  was  upon  them. 

He  was  about  to  exclaim  "Who  goes 
there?"  when  the  old  negro  rose  and 
grabbed  liim  about  the  neck,  and  the 
next  instant  the  two  had  fallen  to  the 
ground  in  a  fierce  struggle. 

Jack  took  advantage  of  the  situation 
to  steal  forward  as  fast  as  he  could,  and 
before  he  was  out  of  hearing  of  the  two 
combatants  he  had  reached  tlie  road  and 
was  looking  around  for  the  hoi-se  which 
Mose  had  mentioned. 

His  sharp  eye  soon  caught  sight  of  the 
animal  tethered  beneath  a  tree  near  by, 
and  he  soon  made  his  way  to  its  side. 

Before    he   could   put   his   foot   in   the 
stirrup,  however,  a  dozen  shots  rung  f- 
in  the  direction  from  which   he   li;ul  j  . 
come,  and  he  at  once  knew  that  his  c. 
cape  was  discovered. 

"Well,"  exclaimed  Jack,  as  he  threw 
himself  into  the  saddle  and  turned  the 
horse  into  the  road,  "they'll  not  catch 
me  without  a  struggle,  that's  certain." 
And  the  ne.xt  instant  he  dug  his  heels 
into  the  sides  of  his  horse  and  was  gal- 
loping at  a  mad  pace  up  the  road. 

He  had  traversed  probably  a  mile  when 
suddenly  there  struck  his  ears  a  sound 
that  filled  him  with  terror. 

A  long,  deep  howl,  then  many  short, 
sharp  barks  told  him  that  bloodhounds 
had  been  put  upon  his  track  and  were 
fast  bearing  down  on  him. 

Above  the  noise  made  bj-  the  dogs  he 
could  also  distinguish  the  clatter  of 
horses'  hoofs  behind  him,  and  for  an  in- 
stant he  was  prompted  to  stop  his  flight. 

But  only  for  an  instant. 

The  thought  of  Rachel,  of  his  uiother 
and  home,  and  of  his  country,  spurred 
him  on  and  filled  his  heart  with  a  de- 
termination to  die  before  he  would  give- 
himself  up. 

The  exigenc}'  of  his  case  demanded 
that  he  should  change  his  tactics,  how- 
ever. 

Every  moment  the  deep  bark  of  the 
bloodhounds  iind  the  loud  clatter  of  the 
horses'  hoofs  of  his  pursuers  grew  nearer 
and  added  to  the  certainty  of  hia  re- 
capture. 

He  looked  around  and  in  the  moon- 
light could  see  them  coming  after  him 
like  the  wind. 

He  tried  to  urge  his  steed  to  a  faster 
pace,  but  the  animal  was  already  begin- 
ning to  show  signs  of  exhaustion,  and  he 
became  convinced  that  it  could  not  hold 
its  present  gait  much  longer. 

Once  more  he  turned  his  bead  about  to 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


^^ee  the  position  of  his  pursuers,  when  his 
iiorse  tripjjeil  antl  stumbled  and  sent 
■iiu-.k  whirling  headlong  into  the  ''-^st  be- 
fore him. 

"  I  lu  lost  now,  surel"'  exclaimed  .>.....^, 
and  in  his  mind's  eye  he  could  already 
see  the  fierce  bloodhounds  tearing  at  his 
throat. 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN   A  BEAR'S  DEN. 

There  was  imbecU^ed  in  Jack  Stanley's 
nature  that  principle  so  common  to  all 
.'ispiring  American  youths,  the  determi- 
nation never  to  give  up  a  fight  until  his 
last  breath  was  drawn,  and  nowhere  on 
the  battle-field  or  in  other  t|i^ht  places 
<lid  he  ever  give  a  better  exemplification 
of  this  principle  than  in  his  present  pre- 
dicament. 

While  his  fall  had  for  an  instant  bruised 
and  stunnetl  him,  it  had  uot  rendered 
him  unconscious,  and  he  had  scarce 
struck  the  ground  before  he  was  on  his 
feet  and  planning  how  to  continue  his 
flight. 

His  horse  had  also  by  this  time  man- 
aged to  rise  to  its  feet,  and  Jack  no 
sooner  saw  that  tiie  animal  was  not  in- 
jured than  his  plan  was  formed.  With  l  lie 
sound  of  his  pursuers  now  frightfully 
close,  he  once  more  uiour^ted  his  steed 
and  dashed  a  short  distance  down  the 
roail.  ;' 

■A  tall,  thickly  leafed  tree  with  over- 
hanging boughs  stood  beside  the  road, 
and  up  to  this  Jack  drew. 

Then  quickh'  catching  hold  of  one  of 
the  limbs  he  rajse<l  himself  into  the  tree, 
at  the  same  time  givin.a:  the  hor.se  a  re- 
sounding kick  and  a  loud  word  of  com- 
mand that  sent  it  galloping  down  the 
road. 

He  had  scarcely  time  to  hide  himself  in 
the  thickest  part  of  the  brandies  before 
the  bloodhounds  dashed  up  to  the  tree. 
For  a  moment  they  stopped  and  sniffed 
about  suspiciously,  and  then,  with  a  suc- 
cession of  short,  sharp  barks,  dashed  on 
again  after  the  flying  horse. 

in  another  instant  the  horsemen,  all 
well  mounted  Confederate  troopers', 
dashed  on  after  the  dogs  without  once 
stopping  at  the  tree  where  Jack  was 
hidd^). 

■'  I've  fooled  them!"  he  exclaimed,  joy- 
fully. "  The  bloodhounds  have  lost  tiie 
scent  and  1  am  saved  I"' 

Jack  remained  in  his  retreat  for  nearly 
an  hour,  when  he  heard  his  pursuers 
returning. 

In  the  moonlight  he  could  see  their 
jaded  steeds  make  their  way  back  with 
the  bloodhounds  at  their  heels. 


,When  the  last  one  disuppeiueil  down 
the  road  he  gave  a  great  .^igh  of  relief 
and  descended  to  l  lie  grouml. 

After  trying  to  get  his  stiffened  limbs 
back  into  their  normal  condition,  he 
looked  once  more  down  the  road  in  the 
dii-ection  in  which  the  Confederate 
troopers  had  disappeared,  and  then 
started  out  on  a  brisk  trot  in  the  oppo- 
site direction. 

He  continued  to  walk  and  run  at  inter- 
vals until  he  thought  he  had  put  a  suflB- 
cient  distance  between  himself  and  the 
enemy,  when  he  set  down  to  rest  by  the 
road-side. 

The  moon  had  long  since  sunk  to  rest 
behind  the  low  mountain  in  the  west, 
and  Jack,  tired  and  exhausted,  was  cast- 
ing about  in  search  of  a  secluded  nook 
in  which  he  might  sleep,  when  he  no- 
ticed the  first  streaks  of  dawn  showing 
theuLselves  in  the  eastern  sky. 

At  the  same  moment  a  ciackling  of 
twigs  behind  him  caused  him  to  turn 
and  behold  through  the  dusky  light  the 
figure  of  a  gray-coated  sentry.' 

"By  heaven!"  Jack  exclaimed,  "I'm 
nearer  danger  than  I  thought  I  was.  I'll 
have  to  make  quick  tracks  out  of  here." 

So  saying,  he jrroped  his  way  along  the 
road  in  the  fnendly  shade  of  a  thick 
hedge,  and  was  finally  out  of  sight  of  the 
enemy's  picket. 

"  Not  knowing  the  position  of  the  rebs, 
it'll  not  be  safe  for  me  to  show  myself 
very  much.  I  think  111  just  worry  along 
to  the  hills  yonder  and  try  to  find  a  hid- 
ing-place there." 

A  quiet  journey  of  half  an  hour 
brought  Jack  to  a  range  of  hills  whose 
sides  were  thickly  grown  with  trees. 

He  worked  about  for  a  few  moments, 
and  was  soon  rewarded  by  finding  the 
entrance  to  a  small  cave. 

Without  a  thought  of  danger  he 
crawled  in  and  tried  to'  make  himself 
comfortable  a  short  distance  from  the 
mouth  of  the  cave. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  had  fallen 
fast  asleep. 

He  had  probably  lain  in  this  condition 
for  nearly  an  hour,  when  he  was  sud- 
denly awakened  by  a  low  growl  in  front 
of  him. 

He  quickly  raised  himself  on  his  knees, 
antl  saw  but  a  few  feet  before  him  a  great 
black  bear  with  glaring  eyes  and  sliining 
teeth  advancing  slowly  toward  him. 

Jack  immediately  drew  back  and  felt 
about  his  person  in  search  of  a  weapon 
of  some  kind.  Luckily  he  found  in  one 
of  his  pockets  a  large  knife  which  he  had 
carried  to  war. 

This  he  drew  out  and  opened  in  haste. 

The  bear  continued  to  advance,  and 
Jack,  not  wishing   to  engage  such   a  foe 


8 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


if  it  were  possible  to  escape  without  a 
conflict,  drew  back. 

He  had  continued  these  tactics  until 
he  found  himself  unable  to  proceed 
further  on  account  of  the  smallness  of 
the  cave. 

Just  as  he  had  reached'  this  point  an 
ominous  growl  from  beijind  told  him 
that  he  was  surrounded,  and  that  his 
only  hope  was  to  fight. 

Without  waiting  for  the   bears  to  at- 
tack  him,  he  at  once  sprung  upon  the 
animal    in    front  of    him,   plunging  his 
^    knife  directly  at  its  throat. 

The  blow  was  well-aimed,  and  with  a 
yelp  of  pain  the  wounded  bear  leaped 
forward  toward  Jack.  . 

But  Jack  was  prepared  and  met  the 
leap  with  another  blow  in  the  some  spot 
as  the  former  one. 

The  blood  spurted  from  the  gaping 
wounds  and  some  of  it  dashing  into  our 
hero's  eyes  almost  blinded  him  for  an 
instant. 

The  animal  behind  him  had  not  heard 
the  cries  of-  pain  of  its  companion  with- 
out making  a  move. 

It  had  crawled  forward  until  it  was 
almost  at  Jack's  feet  and  was  just  in  the 
act  of  catching  him  in  its^embrace  when 
Jack's  hand,  suddenly  drawn  back  to 
give  the  animal  in  front  of  him  the  de- 
spatching blow  struck  it  squarely  in  the 
eyes. 

For  a  moment  the  bear  was  dazed,  and 
that  moment  Jack  sent  home  the  thrust 
which  caused  the  animal  before  him  to 
keel  over  in  a  death-struggle  and  expire 
without  a  groan. 

Jack  then  sprung  in  haste  toward  the 
opening  of  the  cave,  but  had  not  gone 
half  the  distance  when  a  blow  from  the 
paw  of  the  second  bear  struck  him  to  the 
ground. 

In  the  fall  Jack  lost  his  hold  upon  the 
knife  and  his'  heart  sunk  within  him  as 
he  beheld  it  strike  the  ground  entirely 
out  of  his  reach.  ' 

Before  he  could  make  up  his  mind  what 
to  do  the  bear  had  seized  him  in  its  tight 
clutch  and  was  squeezing  him  in  a  man- 
ner that  threatened  quickly  to  take  the 
life  out  of  him. 


CHAPTER  VL 

ON  A  SECRET  MISSION. 

Luckily  for  Jack  one  of  his  arms  was 
free,  and  quick  a?  a  flash  he  fastened  his 
fingers  in  the  throat  of  the  black  foe  and 
pressed  with  all  his  might.  Bruin  evi- 
dently felt  the  pressure,  for  one  of  his 
paws  quickly  loosened. 

"  Now's  my  chance!'  thought  Jack,  as 
he  dug  his  fingers  deeper  into  the  ani- 
mal's throat. 


There  was  a  dull,  gurgling  noise,  and 
then  our  hero  had  the  satisfaction  of  see- 
ing the  bear  keel  over  on  his  back,  bring- 
ing Jack  witli  him. 

But  Jack  had  his  wits  about  him  now 
and  was  not  slow  to  use  his  advantage. 

He  grabbed  up  his  knife  and  with  a 
powerful  blow  sent  it  deep  into  bruin's 
breast. 

With  a  convulsive  shiver  the  animal 
straightened  out  and  died. 

"  I'll  stay  here  no  longer,"  our  hero  ex- 
'claimedlas  he  gazed  on  the  two  inanimate 
forms  before  him.  "  I  don't  want  to  en- 
gage in  any  more  bear  fights  just  at  pres- 
ent. I'd  rather  fight  rebels."  And  with 
a  bound  he  was  out  of  the  cave,  down 
the  mountain  side  and  along  the  road  at 
a  lively  gait. 

He  had  just  passed  a  clump  of  thickly 
growing  bushes  in  his  flight  when  he  was 
suddenly  brought  to  a  halt  by  a  loud 
"Who  goes  there?"  and  looking  round  he 
saw  one  of  the  boys  of  his  own  company 
with  his  gun  leveled  at  him. 

"  Halloo,  Phil,"  exclaimed  Jack,  rush- 
ing back  and  grasping  the  picket's  hand; 
"  you  don't  mean  to  say  I'm  within  Union 
lines?" 

"  Yes,  captain,"  was  the  answer.  "I 
belong  to  the  outside  picket.  Our  camps 
are  beyond  that  big  growth  of  trees." 

"Thank  God  I'm  safe  again.  But  I 
must  hurry  along.  I'll  see  you  again 
shortly."  And  with  a  kindly  smile  that 
had  won  for  Jack  the  love  of  his  boys  he 
dashed  along  the  road  and  into  the  camp. 
The  men  no  sooner  beheld  their  de- 
voted captain  than  a  loud  cheer  rent  the 
air  and  he  was  quickly  lifted  on  to  their 
shoulders  and  carried  to  his  tent. 

He  had  scarcely  made  himself  ac- 
quainted with  the  surroundings  before 
an  order  came  for  him  to  present  himself 
at  once  at  the  headquarters  of  General 
Grant. 

Startled  almost  out  of  his  boots  Jack 
spruced  himself  up  as  well  as  he  could 
and  was  escorted  to  the  tent  of  the  com- 
mander of  the  army  with  a  fast-beating 
heart. 

As  Jack  entered  the  general  was  seated, 
surrounded  by  two  of  his  chiefs,  intently 
surveying  a  military  map  and  smoking 
his  usual  cigar. 

He  looked  up  as  Jack  approached,  and 
seeing  who  it  was,  rose  quickly  t*>  his 
feet,  and  grasping  Jack's  hand,  exclaimed 
feelingly: 

"Young  man,  you  were  one  of  the 
heroes  of  Shiloh  and  I  want  to  tender 
you  my  thanks." 

Jack  blushed  like  a    school-boy,   but 
managed  to  raise  his  eyes  and  say  with  a 
firm  voice: 
"  I  only  did  my  duty." 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


9 


"And  it  was  well  done,  and  for  it  I'm 
going  to  attach  you  to  my  personal  stall' 
for  special  service.  You  will  have  those 
straps  changed  when  you  leave  here.  Sit 
a  moment  and  I'll  tell  you  what  I  want 
done." 

Jack  waited  in  silence  and  in  a  short 
time,  when  the  other  officers  had  with- 
drawn, General  Grant  turned  to  him  and 
said: 

"  Young  man,  I  want  you  to  do  the 
most  dangerous  thing  you  have  ever 
done,  or  probably  will  ever  again  have 
to  do,  in  your  life.  I  want  you  to  get 
into  Vicksburg,  which  I  now  intend  to 
capture,  and  find  out  all  you  can  regard- 
ifig  the  strength  and  situation  of  the 
opposing  forces  there.     Will  you  do  it?" 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation  Jack 
replied: 

"  I  will,  sir!" 

"  Well  said,  young  man.  You  will  get 
your  reward  if  you  do  your  work  well." 

"When  am  I  to  start,  general?" 

"  Within  an  hour.  You  must  return 
here  in  half  an  hour  for  further  instruc- 
tions. Meanwhile  your  time  is  your 
own." 

Jack  returned  quickly  to  his  old  com- 
mand but  thought  it  best  to  keep  his  lips 
sealed  regarding  his  future  movements. 
On  leaving  them,  however,  he  bade  them 
all  good-by  affectionately,  and  gave  a 
special  commission  to  one  of  his  friends 
which  was  to  be  rendered  to  his  mother  in 
case  he  never  returned. 

Many  a  wet  eye  watched  the  handsome 
young  fellow  as  he  made  his  way  back  to 
General  Grant's  headquarters,  and  msny 
were  the  conjectures  as  to  his  probable 
^mission. 

"I  cannot  tell  you  any  more  than  I 
have  already  regarding  your  work,  young 
luan,"  said  the  general,  walking  up  to 
Jack;  "I  can  only  warn  you  to  keep  your 
eyes  and  ears  open  all  the  time  and  be 
.sure  not  to  let  the  enemy  find  out  who 
you  are.  It  is  needless  to  tell  you  that 
they  will  make  short  work  of  you  should 
they  discover  your  real  character.  Now 
go  and  may  good  fortune  attend  you!" 

Jack  touched  his  cap  and  left  the  tent 
immediately. 

He  was  taken  in  charge  by  one  of  the 
general's  aides  and  supplied  with  a  good- 
ly amount  of  money,  and  a  civilian's  suit 
.)f  clothes.  He  was  then  escorted  to  the 
outer  lines  of  the  camp  and  with  a  hearty 
Godspeed  directed  on  his  mission. 

Though  weaK  and  exhausted  from  his 
recent  experience  Jack'tj  ambition  served 
to  keep  him  at  work,  and  he  started  on 
his  journey  with  almost  a  light  heart. 

He  continued  to  go  forward,  asking 
information  from  time  to  time  from  the 
houses  along  the  road. 


Finally  he  reached  a  small  town 
through  which  a  railroad  run,  and  board- 
ing the  cars  was  soon  whirling  along 
toward  danger. 

Jack  took  advantage  of  the  favorable 
opportunity  to  secure  much-needed  rest, 
and  before  thetiain  had  proceeded  far 
he  Was  fast  asleep.  When  he  awoke 
he  found  that  it  was  growing  dusk.  He 
looked  around  to  find  the  conductor, 
when  he  noticed  directly  in  front  of  him 
two  officers  dressed  in  Confederate 
uniform,  earnestly  engaged  in  conversa- 
tion. 

He  learned  forward  to  get  a  closer  look 
at  them  and  to  hear  their  words,  when 
one  of  the  officers,  chancing  to  turn 
slightly,  afforded  Jack  a  view  of  his  face. 

It  was  Fred  Jackson,  Rachel's  cousin, 
and  his  rival  in  love! 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WITHIN  THB  enemy's  LINES. 

Jack  instantly  drew  his  face  into  an 
obscured  corner,  when  he  recognized  the 
young  Confederate  officer,  but  determined 
to  hear  what  the  conversation  was  about. 
So  he  leaned  forward  as  far  as  possible, 
resting  and  partly  concealing  his  face  in 
his  hands. 

"The  young  whelp  got  away  the  other 
niglit  in  the  dark,"  Jackson  was  saying 
to  his  companion,  who  was  none  other 
than  the  brother  of  Rachel  and  Teddy 
Wilson,  "  and  I  firmly  believe  that 
Rachel  had  a  hand  in  his  escape.  He 
was  pursued  in  hot  haste  after  the  dis- 
covery of  his  flight,  but  only  his  horse 
which  was  riderless  was  brought  back. 
It's  soniething  of  a  mystery  what  became 
of  him." 

Jack  almost  smiled  at  these  words  and 
wondered  how  the  two  men  in  front  of 
him  would  act  if  they  knew  that  the 
captive  of  the  night  before  was  so  near 
them. 

"But  what  arp  you  going  to  do  at 
Vicksburg?"  asked  Paul  Wilson.  "  Your 
command  is  not  there." 

"  It's  special  service  I've  been  sent  to  do 
by  General  Beauregard.  He's  heard  that 
Grant  intends  to  immediately  move  on 
that  city,  and  that  the  Union  spies  are 
already  within  the  place  learning  of  its 
strength.  I  am  deputized  to  see  if  I  can 
discover  any  of  them." 

"But  why  didn  t  they  select  somebody 
in  the  city?  I'm  there  with  my  com- 
mand.    Why   didn't  they  pick  me  out?" 

"  That's  one  of  the  things,  dear  fellow, 
that  I  don't  know." 

"But  entrance  to  the  city  is  closed!" 

"Yes,  To  everybody  but  those  who 
have  clear  credentials,  which  are  possible 
to  obtain  only  from  headquarters." 


10 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


"This  train  doesn't  run  into  Vicks- 
bur<r?"  said  Paul,  after  a  pause. 
-  "  No,  it  stops  six  miles  north  of  here, 
and  I'll  have  to  tramp  that  distance  along 
a  dark  road  to-night  to  reach  the  city. 
But  if  I'm  to  have  you  for  a  companion 
I'll  not  mind  it  much."' 

"  But  I'm  not  going  through  now-.  I've 
got  to  stop  near  here  and  order  some 
forage  and  then  ride  into  the  city  on 
hor.se  baciv." 

''But  you'll  get  into  the  city  to-night, 
won't  you?"  asked  Jackson,  anxiously. 

"Oh.  yes,  I'll  be  there  before  you  are, 
Fred,  for  I've  got  to  attend  a  ball  there 
to-night." 

"The  one  you  were  telling  me  about?" 

"Tlie  same;  but  here's  my  getting-off 
place,"  he  answered  hastily,  as  he  jumped 
from  his  seat  and  made  for  the  door; 
"good-by,  and  take  care  of  yourself." 

The  next  moment  he  had  swung  him- 
self from  the  train. 

"You'll  not  be  in  the  same  lively  spirits 
you  are  now  the  next  time  we  meet,  I'm 
thinking,"  Jackson  muttered  under  his 
breath  as  he  saw  his  cousin  depart. 

He  looked  about  the  car  but  paid  no 
particular  attention  to  the  closely-muffled 
figure  directly  behind  him. 

Another  half-hour's  ride  brought  the 
train  to  the  end  of  its  route,  and  the 
Confederate  officer  quickly  left  the  car, 
and  after  making  a  few  inquiries  as  to 
the  route  to  Vicksburg,  he  started  down 
the  road. 

It  was  already  beginning  to  grow  dark, 
and  Jack,  after  allowing  his  rival  to  get 
a  considerable  distance  ahead,  madeafter 
hiiu,  trusting  to  the  night  to  offer  him 
sufficient  concealment. 

''l  must  have  his  credentials,"  said 
Jack  to  himself  as  he  plodded  along;  "if 
I  get  them  1  can  enter  the  city  in  safety 
and  do  my  work  in  short  order." 

The  roiaid  along  which  the  two  men 
were  now  passing  was  thickly  grown  on 
both  sides  with  heavy  timber,  which  cast 
its  shade  so  thickly  that  Jack  almost  lost 
sight  of  the  officer  he  was  following. 

Neither  house  nor  habitation  of  any 
kind  was  to  beseen  and  the  surroundings 
seemed  absolutely  deserted. 

"  Now's  my  chance!"  exclaimed  Jack, 
and  pulling  his  revolver,  he  started  on  a 
silent  trot  after  Jackson. 

He  had  approached  within  a  half-dozen 
paces  of  his  man  when  the  latter,  hearing 
the  footsteps  behind  him,  suddenly 
turned  and  confronted  Jack. 

He  did  not  recognize  him  in  the  dusk, 
but  he  saw  the  flashing  revolver  and  in- 
stantly made  a  move  to  draw  his  own 
weapon. 

"Put  up  your  hands!"  cried  Jack, 
leveling  his  revolver  at  the  other's  head. 


Jackson  instantly  recognized  the  voice 
of  his  rival,  and  forgetting  the  command 
in  his  excitement,  exclaimed: 

"  How  did  you  get  here?" 

"Put  up  your  hands!"  ordered  Jack 
again,  and  the  click  of  his  revolver 
sounded  ominously  on  the  young  Con- 
federate's ear. 

Jackson  threw  his  hands  into  the  air 
and  waited  in  anxious  silence  for  Jack's 
next  move. 

"  Now,  sir,  I  don't  want  to  injure  you, 
although  you  deserve  to  be  after  your 
cowardly  conduct.  I'll  treat  you  with- 
out violence  if  you'll  juat  kindly  and 
quickly  hand  over  the  credentials  whioii 
you  have  on  your  person  and  which  are 
necessary  to  secure  an  entrance  into 
Vicksburg." 

"So  you're  a  spy,  eh?"  exclaimed  Jack- 
son, with  a  sneer. 

"  It  does  not  matter  what  I  am  at  pres- 
ent. 1  want  those  papeus,  and  in  a 
hurry,  too,''  Jack  said  as  he  stepped  one 
pace  nearer  Jack.^on. 

"Well,  you'll  have  to  have  them,  I 
suppose,"  he  replied  in  a  manner  that 
showed  our  hero  at  once  that  he  was  ti'y- 
ing  to  gain  time. 

"  Yes,  and  in  a  hurry  if  you  don't  want 
the  contents  of  this  revolver,"  said  Jack 
in  a  voice  that  showed  he  meant  what  hs 
said. 

Jackson  put  his  hand  in  an  inner 
pocket  as  if  to  draw  out  the  papers  de- 
manded, but  itjstead  he  pulled  out  H  re- 
volver, and  before  Jack  was  aware  of  his 
pui'poss  shoved  it  into  our  hero's  face 
and  fired. 

Jack  drew  away  just  in  time  to  save 
himself  and  then  quickly  knocked  the  re-* 
vol ver  from  Jackson's  hand  to  the  fur- 
ther side  of  tlie  road. 

"I  dislike  to  wound  you  intentionally, 
and  do  not  intend  to  take  unfair  advtin- 
tatre  cf  you,  but  I  niu.st  h.uve  tiiu.x'-'  papers. 
There's  my  revolver.''  And  Jack  laiil  ic 
in  the  road  beside  his  foe's.  '"  Now  exjuie 
on  if  there's  any  figlit  in  you,  antl  show 
the  stuff  you're  made  of." 

Beft)re  Jacksi>u  had  any  time  to  draw 
back  or  take  to  his  le^i's  our  hero  had 
seized  him  about  tiie  neck  and  borne  him 
to  the  ground.  Tlie  iiexc  iijsr;ii>t  he  lia<l 
pressed  his  knee  upon  the  fallen  man's 
breast  and  firmly  seeuretl  him.  Then  he 
took  the  handkerchief  from  his  pocket 
and  lur  ling  Jackson  on  his  face  tightly 
bound  Ills  hands  and  arms  behind  liim. 

He  then  took  his  own  handkerchief 
and  bound  firmly  together  liis  rival's 
feet. 

Jackson  gnashed  his  teeth  in  rage  when 
he  fouiid  himself  so  utterly  powerless, 
anil  looked  on  with  muttered  threats  a» 
Jack  took  from  his  pocket  his  credentials. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


11 


"  Now,  sir,"  our  hero  continued,  with  a 
grim  smile,  "  I'm  going  to  trouble  yon 
for  your  coat,  vest  and  trousers.  They'll 
fit  me  very  well  and  will  stand  me  ia  good 
stead  in  the  little  job  I'm  about  to  under- 
take." 

Jackson  at  first  attempted  to  resist  but 
he  found  himself  so  utterly  helpless  in 
Jack's  hanJs  that  he  gave  up  in  despair 
and  quietly  allowed  his  clothes  to  be 
removed  and  Jack's  to  be  substituted. 

"You'll  rue  this,  my  fine  fellovvl'  he 
finally  exclaimed,  when  Jack  had  com- 
pleted dressing  himself  in  the  Confed- 
erate uniform. 

"All's  fair  in  war,  ray  friend;  it  may  be 
your  turn  to  be  on  top  to-morrow." 

So  saving  Jack  placed  the  credentials 
in  his  pocket  and  picked  up  the  revolvers 
and  disposed  them  about  his  person.  He 
then  dragged  his  helpless  foe  to  the  side 
of  the  road  and  with  a  sarcastic  adieu 
started  down  the  road  on  a  run. 

In  an  hour  he  reached  the  Vicksburg 
outposts  and  was  soon  stop{3ed  by  pickets. 
His  credentials,  however,  signed  by  a 
Confederate  general,  quickly  secured  for 
him  passage  through  the  lines,  and  in  a 
very  short  time  he  was  within  the  rebel 
city. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

AT  HEADQUARTERS. 

The  night  was  quite  dark  when  Jack 
finalh'  found  himself  alone,  and  for  a 
long  time  he  wandered  up  one  street  and 
down  another  in  an  indefinite  way,  try- 
ing to  get  the  lay  of  the  land. 

The  city  was  alreadj'  under  military 
control,  and  tlie  guards  he  Uiet  scanned 
him  in  a  suspicious  manner.  Paying 
but  little  attention  to  them  he  tried  to 
formulate  some  plan  by  which  he  could 
reach  the  headquarters  of  General  Peui- 
berton,  who  was  in  commana  of  the 
city. 

"  ril  have  to  hustle  if  I  want  to  get  my 
information  from  that  quarter,"  he  said 
to  himself,  "for  the  young  gentleman  I 
left  down  the  road  will  surely  be  on  my 
heels  in  a  very  short  time.  Wonder 
where  the  general's  quarters  are,  any- 
way?" 

He  was  standing  in  a  dark  corner  as 
he  ujused  thus,  with  his  eyes  bent  on  a 
large  stone  dwelling  that  stood  well  back 
from  the  street.  Light  streamed  from 
the  windows  and  there  was  all  the  signs 
of  a  scene  of  gayety  within.  Guests  now 
and  then  hurried  by  the  spot  where  he 
stood  and  made  their  way  into  the  lighted 
Uiansion. 

Suddenly  there  passed  close  to  him 
two  men  with  slouch   hats  and    the   gen- 


eral appearance  of  men  of  doubtful 
habits.  They  did  not  notice  Jack,  who 
kept  silent  as  he  listened   to  their  words. 

"You're  sure  he's  in  there  to-night,  are 
you.  Bob?"  the  heavier  man  aiked,  ex- 
tending his  hand  toward  the  lighted 
mansion. 

"Sure's  I  got  the  letter  fix>m  young 
Captain  Jackson  to-day,  Billy,"  aswered 
his  companion. 

"  Bat  it  seems  a  mighty  strange  thing 
that  young  Jackson  would  want  to  get 
his  own  cousin  out  o'  the  way.  I  don't 
understand  that  part  of  it." 

"Humph,  that's  easy,  Bill.  Y'ou  see 
Jackson  has  been  a  big  gambler  and  lost 
all  his  own  money  and  bon-owed  heavily 
from  from  his  cousin.  Now  Jackson's  in 
love  with  his  cousin's  sister,  and  if  he  can 
get  him  out  of  the  way  and  marry  her, 
why,  he'll  come  in  for  a  good  share  of 
her  money;  otherwise  he's  a  dead  duck. 
Beside,  his  cousin,  who  knows  all  about 
his  gambling  and  all  his  other  bad  habits 
would  never  let  his  sister  marry  him." 

"Well,  if  that's  w'ac  he's  after  he's 
nothing  but  a  mean,  skulkin'  varmint 
au'  I  ain't  the  man  to  do  his  dirty  work. 
Yer  better  get  somebody  else  in  my 
place.  Bob,"  said  Bill,  turning  away. 

"But,  see  here.  Bill,"  said  the  other, 
catching  his  companion  by  the  arm, 
"  you  ain't  a-goin'  back  on  a'  feller,  now, 
are  j'ou?  Jest  look  at  the  money  there  is 
in  it.  Two  hundred  apiece,  man,  and 
the  risk  ain't  nothing  to  speak  of.  Come, 
come,  brace  up,  and  move  along  with  me 
now,"  and  Bob  tried  tried  to  drag  his 
companion  along. 

At  first  Bill  hesitated,  but  his  pal's 
arguments  soon  overcame  his  scruples, 
and  the  two  made  their  way  slowly  over 
the  fence  of  the  lighted  i-esidence  and 
stole  along  cautiously  in  the  shadow 
until  they  reached  a  low  window. 

"The  villains!"  exclaimed  Jack,  look- 
ing carefully  after  them.  "They  mean 
to  kill  the  young  fellow  1  saw  on  the 
train  to-day.  So  that's  the  kind  of  a 
fellow  I  dealt  with  this  afternoon,  is  it? 
Well,  if  lie  works  iiis  plans  successfully 
and  wins  Rachel's  hand  by  such  deviltry 
as  this,  may  I  never  show  my  face 
again." 

So  sajing.  Jack  made  his  way  toward 
the  house  by  another  route  and  slowly 
crawled  to  the  spot  where  the  two 
ruffians  crouched. 

"D'ye  know  him  w'en  you  see  him?" 
he  heard  Bob  ask. 

"Yes,  seen  him  many  a  time  about 
camp  here." 

"  But  you  ain't  going  to  strike  now  be- 
fore he  goes  in''" 

"  No;  when  he  starts  to  go  home  we'll 
fall  on  him  from  behind,  strike  him  hard 


12 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


on  the  head  and  then  throw  him  in  the 
nearest  sewer-hole." 

"  So  that's  the  plan,  is  it?"  Jack  mur- 
mured, crawling  slowly  away.  "  Well, 
then,  I've  just  three  hours  to  work  those 
headquarters  and  get  back  and  balk 
their  little  game.  I  can't  afford  to  stay 
here  and  warn  him,  for  I  don't  know 
when  he'll  be  along,  and  if  I  waited  too 
long,  why  it  would  only  give  that  young 
wretch  a  chance  to  get  after  me.  Now 
for  headquarters,"  and  leaping  the  fence 
lightly,  Jack  was  off  down  the  street. 

By  making  diligent  inquiries  of  some  of 
the  guards  he  met.  Jack  was  finally  able, 
after  an  hour's  work,  to  reach  the  head- 
quarters of  Grenei-al  Pemberton.  He 
passed  the  double  sentinels  at  the  door 
and  was  escorted  into  a  large  room  where 
he  was  given  a  seat  and  told  to  wait  until 
the  general's  aide  appeared. 

Jack's  escort  was  no  sooner  out  of  the 
room  than  he  begun  to  make  note  of 
everything  about.  On  one  of  the  tables 
lay  several  maps  and  a  number  of  un- 
finished drawings.  These  he  scanned 
with  an  eager  eye,  and  with  a  thrill  of 
joy  found  that  they  contained  much 
valuable  information. 

He  continued  his  quiet  quest  about 
the  room  keeping  an  eye  constantly  upon 
the  door  to  be  prepared  for  any  one.  In 
books  and  on  paper  which  he  caught  up 
he  saw  many  figures  and  plans  that  gave 
him  a  valuable  insight  into  the  strength 
of  the  city. 

His  eye  all  at  once  seized  upon  a  little 
note-book  lying  on  a  desk  with  the  name 
of  the  Confederate  commander  upon  the 
cover.  He  picked  it  up  and  found  it  to 
contain  a  full  statement  of  the  various 
bodies  of  military  within  the  city. 

"Just  what  I  want!"  exclaimed  Jack, 
and  the  next  instant  he  had  hidden  it 
beneath  his  coat. 

Almost  at  the  same  moment  the  door 
suddenly  opened  and  a  tall  officer  dressed 
in  Confederate  uniform  stepped  into  the 
room. 

Jack  was  a  little  confused  by  this  sud- 
den entrance,  but  quickly  assumed  a 
nonchalent  air  and  made  a  proper  salute. 

''Well,  sir,  you're  making  yourself  at 
home,  I  see,"  tlie  oflBcer  said,  seating 
himself  at  his  desk. 

"  Improving  my  time,  sir,"  Jack  re- 
plied. 

"  Well,  let's  get  down  to  business  im- 
mediately. General  Pemberton  ia  sick 
to-night,  and  has  delegated  me  to  assign 
you  your  task.  I  presume  your  com- 
manding officer  has  already  given  you  an 
\dea  as  to  what  it  shall  be." 

"  Nothing  definite,"  aswere^^  Jack,  in 
a  non-committal  manner. 

"  Well,  it's  this:     Halloo,  what's  that?" 


the  officer  exclaimed,  as  a  perfect  babel 
of  voices  from  the  outer  door  broke  in  on 
his  ears. 

The  next  moment  the  door  of  the  room 
in  which  the  two  were  was  suddenly 
bursted  open,  and  Fred  Jackson,  mud- 
bespattered  and  with  clothing  all  disar- 
ranged, dashed  in. 

"  So  you've  f;ot  this  far,  have  you?"  he 
cried,  looking  at  Jack  with  blazing  eyes. 
"  Well,  this  is  as  far  as  you  will  get.  This 
man,  he  said,  turning  to  thedumfounded 
officer,  "  is  a  spy  who  overtook  me  down 
the  road,  stripped  me  of  my  clothing  and 
made  his  way  here  by  that  means.  Ar- 
rest him  at  once  before  he  gets  any  more 
information." 

Jack  saw  that  his  game  was  up  at  once 
if  he  did  not  put  on  a  bold  face. 

"My  credentials  are  here  to  be  ex- 
amined if  there  is  any  doubt  as  to  my 
identity." 

"Your  credentials?  They're  mine," 
exclaimed  Jackson,  angrily.  "  Why 
don't  you  have  him  taken  into  custody 
at  once,"  he  continued,  turning  to  the 
officer. 

"  Who  can  identify  and  substantiate 
your  claim,  young  man?"  asked  Jackson. 

"  Your  officer  of  the  guard  who  stands 
at  the  door,  and  who  came  from  the  same 
county  I  did." 

"  Bring  him  in." 

"Do  you  know  this  man?"  asked  the 
officer,  when  the  chief  of  the  guard  ap- 
peared. 

"I  do." 

"  Who  is  he?" 

"Captain  Fred  Jackson,  of  Company 
B,  Tenth  Volunteers." 

"  You  can  vouch  for  that?" 

"  I  can." 

"  Then  take  thisimposter  to  the  guard- 
house, double-iron  him  and  let  him  be 
tried  as  a  spy  in  the  morning." 

Jack  was  accordingly  led  away  between 
a  double-guard,  placed  in  a  loathsome 
cellar  beneath  the  building,  and  heavy 
iron  chains  placed  on  his  ankles  and 
wrists.  When  left  alone  he  sunk  on  a 
low  bench  near  the  wall  and  buried  his 
face  in  his  hands. 

"  I  can't  even  save  Rachel's  brothe/ 
now,"  he  cried. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WITH   BYES  WIDE   OPEN. 

"My  God!"  exclaimed  Jack,  as  h« 
heard  the  door  of  his  prison  closed  with 
a  clang,  and  the  key  turn  in  the  lock; 
"  I  can  never  stay  here  while  those  two 
villains  are  about  to  take  that  man's  life. 
I  must  get  out  and  save  him." 

When  Jack  heard  his  guards  slowly  re 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


13 


treat  along  the  passage-way  that  led  to 
the  upper  floor,  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  in 
the  darkness  looked  about  him. 

A  pale  stream  of  light  directed  him  to 
the  one  small  window  in  the  walls  of  his 
prison.  Making  as  little  noise  with  his 
clanking  chains  as  possible,  he  ap- 
proached this  and  peered  out.  A  small 
yard  bounded  by  a  high  stone  fence  was 
all  that  met  his  gaze. 

The  window  itself  was  protected  by 
heavy  iron  bars  between  which  there 
was  scarcely  room  enough  for  Jack  to 
pass  his  hand. 

"  I  never  can  get  out  there,"  he  said, 
with  a  sigh.  "  Wonder  if  there's  anything 
I  can  pry  'em  out  with?" 

He  felt  his  way  slowly  about  the  floor 
but  could  find  nothing  that  would  an- 
swer for  a  pry. 

Finally  he  reached  the  low  bench  on 
which  he  had  sunk  when  he  first  entered 
the  place.  It  was  made  of  wood.  Seiz- 
ing one  of  its  legs  firmly  he  tried  to 
loosen  it.  At  first  the  support  remained 
immovable,  but  after  working  it  until 
his  hands  were  sore  and  his  muscles  tired, 
he  managed  to  wrench  it  loose  without 
making  any  noise. 

Springing  to  the  window,  he  placed 
his  improvised  pry  between  two  of  the 
iron  bars,  and  putting  all  his  strength 
to  the  effort  tried  to  loosen  them. 

For  fifteen  minutes  he  continued  to 
exert  himself  but  was  at  last  compelled 
to gi. fe  up  the  attempt  to  escape  by  that 
way.  But  he  by  no  tbeans  gave  up  the 
struggle  to  get  out.  He  wormed  his  way 
around  the  cellar  floor  in  search  of 
some  instrument  or  weapon  that  would 
assist  him. 

Suddenly,  over  in  one  corner,  a  noise 
like  the  trickling  of  a  small  stream  of 
water  reached  his  ears.  Jack  hastily 
found  his  way  thither  and  put  his  ear 
close  to  the  wall.  It  was  surely  the  sound 
of  running  water  that  he  heard.  He  felt 
around  with  his  hand  and  finally  struck 
a  small  opening  in  the  wall.  Shoving 
his  hand  into  this  it  touched   cold  water. 

"It  must  lead  to  the  sewer,"  he  ex- 
claimed to  himself,  when  he  had  gone 
thus  far;  "  if  I  can  only  crawl  through 
I'll  risk  it,  for  if  I  stay  here  it'll  be  sure 
death,  whereas  if  I  get  out  I  may  have  a 
chance  to  live." 

Shoving  his  arm  further  into  the  hole 
he  found  that  it  was  quite  large  after 
the  opening  was  passed.  As  soon  as  he 
made  this  discovery  he  immediately  set 
himself  to  work  to  enlarge  the  small 
space  that  led  through  the  opening. 

Several  mortared  stones  of  consideiable 
size  gave  w,ay  before  his  fierce  efforts,  and 
by  scraping  with  the  sharp  edges  of  the 
iron  chain  that  bound  his  wrists  he  was 


able  to  remove  a  large  part  of  the  sand 
and  earth  that  stood  in  his  way  to 
freedom. 

Working  steadily  for  a  half-hour  he 
was  at  last  able  to  remove  the  small 
sewer  crock  at  the  opening  and  make  a 
hole  large  enough  to  allow  his  body  to 
pass  into  the  sewer  proper. 

"Now  I'd  be  all  right  if  I  had  my 
hands  and  feet  loose.  As  it  is,  I'll  no 
sooner  get  outside  than  some  of  those 
pesky  sentries  will  be  after  me,"  Jack 
murmured  to  hijuself  as  he  drew  away 
from  the  hole  and  gave  one  long  look 
about  his  dark  prison. 

The  next  moment  with  a  "  Heaven 
help  me!"  upon  his  lips,  he  started  to 
make  his  way  through  the  loathsome 
hole. 

At  first  the  stench  was  frightful,  almost 
unbearable,  and  nearly  overcome  he  was 
several  times  tempted  to  turn  back  and 
wait  for  his  fate. 

But  each  time  the  thought  of  Rachel 
and  her  brother  in  his  imminent  danger 
forced  him  onward,  and  he  had  scarcely 
screwed  his  way  more  than  fifty  feet 
through  the  small  sewer  before  he 
emerged  into  a  much  larger  one  in  which 
the  air  was  much  purer. 

A  feeling  of  delight  entered  his  heart 
as  he  stopped  and  took  a  long  breath. 
He  found  he  could  move  along  now  by 
simply  stooping  his-^head  and  wading 
knee-deep  in  the  running  water. 

"This  is  a  main  sewer,"  he  exclaimed; 
"now  if  I  can  only  reach  a  basin  I'll  be 
all  right." 

He  wormed  himself  slowly  along,  feel- 
ing the  walls  frequently  for  an  opening 
of  some  kind.* 

A  small  gleam  of  light  a  few  feet  ia  ad- 
vance suddenly  struck  his  eye.  He 
hastened  forward  with  a  half-suppressed 
cry  of  joy.  It  was  the  reflection  of  a 
street-lamp  coming  down  through  a  sewer 
basin. 

In  hot  haste  he  crawled  through  into 
the  basin,  and  raising  his  arms  sought  to 
force  the  iron  cover  from  its  place  and 
thus  make  an  egress  for  himself. 

At  first  the  cover  refused  to  move. 
Jack's  strength,  moreover,  was  well-nigh 
exhausted  from  his  recent  severe  exer- 
tions, and  he  stood  in  his  loathsome  sur- 
roundings with  scarcely  enough  ambition 
to  raise  his  arms  again. 

An  approaching  footstep  warned  him 
to  desist  for  a  moment,  but  when  it  had 
passed  he  drew  several  long,  deep  breaths 
throujrh  the  grating.  This  seemed  to 
give  him  new  life. 

He  put  his  strength  to  the  task  once 
more,  and  his  heart  lightened  as  he  felt 
it  give  way  and  finally  fall  over,  making 
a  way  for  his  escape. 


14 


CAPTAm  JACK. 


He  caught  hold  of  the  stone  edges,  and 
wirh  a  light  leap  managed  to  pull  him- 
self tlirough  to  the  walk. 

Utterly  exhausted,  he  reeled  abo>ifi:t  in 
his  soaking  garments  and  finally  fell  in  a 
dead  faint  iu  the  gutter. 

How  long  he  lay  thus  he  could  never 
tell,  but  a  sound  of  subdued  voices  near 
him  some  time  later  called  him  to  his 
senses. 

They  were  near,  very  near,  almost  over 
biin. 

He  slowly  and  quietly  tiirned  his  head 
around,  but  found  that  the  overhanging 
edge  of  the  basin  screened  him  from,  the 
men  who  were  talking. 

"Funny,  ain't  it?"  whispered  one  fel- 
low, whose  voice  was  thick  with  liquor, 
and  whom  Jack  at  once  knew  to  be  the 
man  Bob  whom  he  had  fallen  in  with 
earlier  in  the  evening.  "  This  is  the  very 
place  we  wuz  goin'  to  settle  'im,  an'  ther 
top's  off  ez  nice  ez  kin  be.  Wonder 
w-who  did  it?" 

"Dunno,"  answered  his  companion, 
finding'needed  support  against  the  lamp- 
post; "dunno  n-nothin'  jest  now,  d'ye, 
Bob?" 

"  Halloo!"  was  Bob's  answer  m  a  thick 
but  excited  voice;  "who's  this?''  And 
the  next  moment  both  men  were  stoop- 
ing over  our  friend  Jack. 


CHAPTER  X. 

SHACKLES  LOOSENED, 

"  Wy,  I'll  be  blowed  ef  he  h'ain't  got 
bracelets  on!"  exclaimed  Bob,after  he  had 
scrutinized  Jack  more  carefully;  "got 
■"em  on  his  feet,  too.  Wy,  Bill,  w'at's 
this  we've  struck?  Speak  up,  feller;  w'at 
yez  a  doin'  hero  wi'  them  tilings  on?" 

Jack  made  no  answer  until  he  had 
managed  to  reach  a  sitting  posture  on  the 
curbstone.  Then,  with  a  well -feigned 
leer  of  drunkenness  and  a  shaky  voice,  he 
said: 

"  Wy,  j'ou  know,  b-boj^s,  I  was  boozin' 
to  night,  and  because  w'en  I  g  got  back 
to  my  quarters  I  was  noisy  they  put  me 
in  tlie  guard-house  and  put  these  things 
on  me."  And  Jack  shook  the  iron  chains 
tliat  seemeil  just  now  to  stand  between 
him  and  liberty. 

"  I  say,  b-boys,  won't  you  li-help  me  to 
get  'em  off?  They're  tearing  m-uiy  flesh," 
he  continued,  when  he  saw  that  the  two 
men  before  liim  did  not  intend  to  make 
any  effort  to  release  him;  "I'll  pay  j^ou 
well  for  it  if  you  will." 

The  proujise  of  pay  speedily  put  the 
men  in  the  proper  humor. 

Bob  drew  alieavy  knife  from  his  pocket 
and  carelessly  taking  hold  of  his  com- 
panion's  revolver,  he  laid   the  shackles 


about  Jack's  wrists  on  the  hard  pave- 
ment, and  with  several  quick  blows  suc- 
ceeded in  separating  them. 

Jaclc  raised  his  afrms  in  an  ecstasy  of 
relief  and  joy  when  the  chains  fell  from 
his  hands,  and  immediately  set  himself  to 
work  to  loosen  those  about  hia  ankles. 
The  free  use  of  the  knife  enabled  him 
finally  to  release  himself  completely. 

"Now,  w-where's  the  money  yer  said 
yer'd  give  us?"  asked  Bob,  in  a  threaten- 
ing  tone. 

"Money?"  answered  Jack,  with  a  quick 
glance  at  the  weapons  which  the  two 
m,en  now  held  in  their  hands;  "  wh\',  I 
promised  you  no  money."  And  with  a 
bold  grasp  he  seized  the  knife  and  re- 
volver from  them,  and  turning  on  hia 
heel  fled  down  a  neighboring  street  with 
all  his  speed. 

After  running  a  block  he  lapsed  into  a 
smart  walk  in  order  not  to  attract  atten- 
tion. He  could  hear  the  curses  of  tha 
two  men  behind  him  as  they  tried  with 
unsteady  steps  to  make  after  him. 

Jack  secreted  the  two  weapons  about 
his  person  and  then  felt  for  the  precious 
volume  which  he  had  picked  up  in  thj 
Confederate  headquarters. 

From  beneath  his  coat  where  it  had 
lodged  he  pulled  it,  and  under  a  conven- 
ient lamp-post  he  stopped  a  moment  tc 
examine  it.  ,  , 

It  was  thoroughly  soaked.  apKl'  seme  of 
the  maps  and  figures  were  klightly 
blurred.  »■     • 

"But  it'll  have  to  do  now,"  he  ex- 
claimed, as  lie  replaced  it  in  a  pocket  a»d 
continued  on  his  way.  "  It'll  not  be  safe 
for  me  to  remain  in  this  town  a  moment 
longer  now  than  is  absolutely  necessary, 
for  every  guard  and  picket  will  soon 
know  of  my  escape  and  be  on  the  watch 
for  me.  If  I  was  only  sure  that  those  two 
fiends  woulJn't  undertake  their  blood- 
thirsty job  to-night  I  could  iskip  now, 
but  I  can't  go'when  I  know  that  >t)un{5 
fellow's  in  danger.  If  I  could  only  sef 
and  warn  him.  Wonder  what  he'd  say  ii 
he'd  see  me  now  in  his  cousin's  clothes?" 

Communing  to  himself  thusJack  made 
hia  way  back  to  that  part  of  the  city  in 
which  the  great  party  %yas  being  held. 

He  finally  reached  it  after  narrowly 
escaping  several  times  from  running  inter 
the  hands  of  a  guard. 

He  took  his  stand  in  a  dark  door-way 
which  afforded  him  a  complete  view  of 
the  scene,  and  from  that  vantage  ground 
he  awaited  developments. 

It  was  growing  rapidly  on  toward  mid- 
night, he  could  see  from  the  lew  people 
who  moved  along  the  streets.  Moreover, 
from  the  great  mansion  across  the  way 
the  guests  liad  already  begun  to  d€par<i 
in  considerable  numbers. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


li 


Just  as  the  bells  of  the  city  tolled  out 
the  hour  of  twelve  tliere  issued  from  the 
house  opposite  two  youiijj;  ladies,  fscorted 
by  <i.  liaudsouie  j'oung  officer  in  dress- 
uiiiroiia,  that  Jack  instantly  rccofirnized 
as  the  young  luan  lie  had  seen  on  the 
train  with  Fred  Jackson  —  Rachel's 
brother  Paul. 

When  he  had  assisted  the  young  ladies 
into  their  carriage,  which  was  drawn  up 
iit  the  walk,  and  had  directed  his  eyes 
longingly  after  it  as  it  disappeared  down 
the  street,  he  turned  slowly  and  started 
on  his  way  toward  his  quarters. 

When  Jacic  saw  that  he  was  alone  and 
that  there  was  no  fear  of  his  discovery, 
he  hurried  after  Paul.  He  had  not  cov- 
ered half  the  distance  that  separated 
them,  however,  before  Paul  passed  the 
Ktreet  corner,  and  as  he  did  so  the  two 
ruffians  sprurjg  upon  him. 

One  of  them  caught  hold  of  his  arms 
w\iile  the  other  tried  to  throw  him  to  the 
groutid. 

He  struggled  in  their  grasp  for  a  mo- 
ment. That  moment  was  long  enough 
for  Jack  to  reach  Ills  side. 

Seizing  Bill  he  hurled  him  across  the 
walk  with  sufficient  force  to  cause  him  to 
fad  in  a  heap  in  the  gutter. 

Bob  no  sooner  saw  that  the  game  was 
up  tiian  he  relea,sed  his  hold  and  made 
dcwn  the  street  with  unsteady  steps,  his 
companion  following  as  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  regain  his  feet. 

"Here,  you  skulking  thieves!"  ex- 
eh?iiued  Paul  as  he  started  after  the  two 
nun  with  the  intention  of  capturing 
th'^m;  "stop,  or  I'll  slioot!" 

"Let  them  go,"  said  Jack,  seizing  hold 
of  the  officer's  arm  and  detaining  hiir; 
"  my  assistance  probably  has  saved  your 
life.  If  an  alarm  is  raised  it  will  possibh' 
result  in  the  loss  of  mine.  Now  do  me 
the  favor  to  give  me  a  little  assistance." 
And  Jack  turned  his  eyes  appealingly  on 
tho  other. 

'*  Why,  who  are  you?"  exclaimed  Paul, 
turning  his  eyts  full  on  our  hero.  "  And 
how  can  the  capture  of  those  men  possi- 
bly hurt  you?  Why,  you  have  on  a  Con- 
fetterate  uniform,  and  an  officers,  too. 
W;ioare  you,  anyway?" 

"  Come  alontr,  or  we'll  attract  atte^n- 
ti'Hi,"  replied  Jack,  dragging  Paul  down 
a«ide  street  where  lights  were  few. 

"Now,  j-ou'll  be  surpriseil  by  my  story, 
no  doubt,"  begun  Jack,  as  he  noted  the 
mj'stified  look  on  his  companion's  face. 
■•  But  I  am  going  to  trust  you  with  my 
secret  and  ask  you  for  assistance  in  leav- 
ing this  place.  1  am,  in  brief,  the  man  to 
whom  your  cousin  referred  on  the  train 
»o  Vicksburg  to-day." 

"  Not  a  Union  spy!" 

"The  same!" 


"Then,  by  heaven,  FU   turn   you  over 
to  the  guard!" 

So  saying,  Paul   seized   our  hero  about 
the    waist    and    made    an    outcry     that . 
quickly  brought  a  Confederate  sentinel 
to  the  spot. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

ILL-LUCK. 

Just  as  the  Confederate  guard  dashed 
up  to  the  spot  where  the  two  men  stood, 
Jack  managed  to  turn  in  the  other's 
grasp  and  whispered  in  his  ear: 

"  Give  me  five  minutes  to  explain  all 
to  you,  and  if  I  do  not  make  everything 
satisfactory  I'll  let  you  turn  me  over  to 
the  guard." 

"Well,  go  on,  then,"  said  Paul,  as  he 
dismissed  the  guard  with  an  instruction 
that  he  return  in  five  minutes,  "and 
make  your  storj- short,  for  I  have  no  time 
to  waste  on  spies." 

"Have  you  ever  liad  any  reason  to 
suspect  your  cousin,  Fred  Jackson,  of 
harboring  ill-will  against  you?"  Jack 
asked,  quietly. 

"How  does  that  affect  you?" 

"You  will  please  answer  my  questions 
if  I  am  to  clear  myself  in  five  minutes." 

"  Well,  j-es,  tiien,"  answered  Paal 
Wilson,  with  a  pained  expression  on 
liis  face. 

"  To  the  extent  of  having  you  put  out 
of  the  way,  or  in  other  wordskilled?" 

"My  God,  no!"  exclaimed  Paul,  with  a 
start,  and  then  the  whole  vile  plot  grad- 
ually dawned  on  him.  "  Were  those  the 
minions  wlio  just  now  pounced  upon 
me?" 

Jaeli  nodded  his  head  in  the  affirma- 
tive. 

"  But  how  do  3-0U  know  this?" 

Our  hero  briefly  related  the  manner  in 
which  he  liad  overheard  the  plans  of 
Fred  Jackson's  two  hired  assassins. 

"And  but  lor  you  1  would  probably 
now  be  dead.  You  have  saved  my  life," 
and  in  the  exubei'ance  of  his  feelings,  the 
young  man  seized  Jack's  hand  and  wrung 
it  forcibly. 

"But."  he  continued,  as  a  look  of  pain 
crossed  his  face,  "  you  are  a  spy  by  your 
own  statement.  You  probably  have  al- 
readj"  obtained  the  information  for  which 
you  risked  your  life  within  our  lines.  I 
would  be  untrue  to  the  cause  for  which 
I  am  fighting  and  for  which  I  am  willing 
to  lay  down  my  life  if  I  allowed  you  to 
escape  now.  And  yet  I  owe  j'ou  mj'  life, 
for  you  have  but  just  saved  it.  What 
can  I  do;  what  can  1  do?"  and  the  young 
man's  voice  sunk  to  a  whisper,  and  he 
looked  into  Jack's  face  with  an  expres- 
sion in  which  pity  and  pain  were  both 
couibined. 


16 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


"  Do  not  allow  yourself  any  pain  on 
my  account,  ujy  dear  fellow,"  !<aid  Jack, 
nonchalantly,  clapping  the  other  famil- 
iarly. "  I'll  find  a  way  out  of  this  dilem- 
ma without  bothering  you." 

Then,  with  a  sudden  turn  on  his  heel, 
Jack  broke  away  on  a  dead  run  in  a 
direction  opposite  to  that  in  which  the 
guards  had  retired.  For  a  moment  Paul 
was  so  dazed  by  the  turn  of  events  that 
he  was  absolutely  speechless.  He  looked 
after  the  rapidly  retreating  figure  of  his 
savior.  Then  he  drew  his  hands  across 
his  eyes  as  if  to  clear  his  vision,  and 
cried: 

''  After  him,  boys;  he's  a  Union  spy !" 
Paul  did  not  wait  to  see  if  the  sentinels 
followed,  but  started  after  Jack  with  all 
his  speed.  But  our  hero  had  played  his 
game  so  cleverly  that  he  had  already 
traversed  several  squares.  He  dropped 
into  a  long,  dark  alley  when  he  had 
traversed  thus  far,  and  in  a  moment  as 
he  lay'  still  his  heart  gave  a  thrill  of  joy 
as  he  saw  Paul,  closely  followed  by  the 
guards,  continue  their  pursuit  along  the 
street. 

"Now  I  can  get  out  of  this  place  as 
fast  as  my  legs  can  carry  me.  I  have 
nel{)ed  .hiiii  out  of  his  predicament  and 
I've  got  the  information  that  General 
(xi-auc  wants." 

60  saying.  Jack  stole  cautiously  down 
t!i.;  alley  into  which  he  had  turned  in 
search  of  an  exit.  A  high  board  fence 
impeded  his  way  before  he  had  traversed 
a  dozen  paces.  Silently  he  climbed  it. 
In  his  haste  he  did  not  notice  what  M'as 
beneath  him  on  the  other  side,  but 
dropped  to  the  ground. 

"  Lord  save  us!"  exclaimed  a  gruff  voice 
as  Jack  felt  his  feet  come  heavily  into 
contact  with  some  one's  else. 

He  stumbled  and  fell  backward  to  the 
ground.  When  he  tried  to  regain  his 
feet  he  found  two  men  standing  over 
him  in  a  threatening  attitude.  One 
had  raised  on  high  a  fierce-looking  blud- 
geon, the  other  had  grasped  in  his  right 
hand  a  long,  shining  steel  blade. 

One  look  told  Jack  that  they  were  the 
two  would  be  murderers  whose  game  he 
had  so  recently  balked. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

INTO     OPE  N     ARMS. 

•'Who  is  it,  Bill?"  asked  the  man  with 
the  knife. 

"Dunnoan"  don't  care,"  replied  Bill 
with  an  oath;  ''  but  I  knows  he  hurt  my 
steppers.  Search  'im  an'  see  if  he's  got 
anything  wuth  takin'." 

Bob  knelt  down  and  made  a  move  as  if 
to  unfasten  Jack's  coat. 


Jack  thought  of  the  precious  v'olume 
which  it  contained,  and  like  a  flash 
leaped  to  his  feet  and  drew  back  for  a 
struggle. 

'•Now  see  here,  you  scamps!"  he  ex- 
claimed, retreating  as  the  two  men  ad- 
vanced upon  him;  "I've  blocked  one  of 
your  murderous  games  already,  and. 
though  I  don't  want  to  get  into  the 
clutches  of  the  guard,  I'll  be  blamed  if  I 
don't  make  an  outcry  and  call  them  to 
rope  you  in  if  you  don't  quit  this  non- 
sense." 

There  was  a  ring  of  determination  in 
Jack's  voice  that  for  a  moment  awed  the 
two  wretches.  They  stopped  and  luoked 
toward  each  other,  uncertain  what  to  do. 
Then  Bill  exclaimed:  ' 

"So  you're  the  bloke  we  helped  outen 
a  hole,  are  you?  Wal,  I  reckon  our  word 
'ud  be  just  as  good  as  yours  in  court,  so 
unless  yer  want  ter  be  turned  over,  jest 
you  peel  off  them  duds  an'  let  us  go 
through  'em." 

"  I'll  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  answered 
Jack;  "don't  you  see  I'm  a  Confederate 
officer  and  that  I  can  have  you  fellows 
sent  up  if  I  said  the  word." 

"  Officer,  eh?"  said  Bill;  "  an'  with  iron 
bracelets  on  too,  eh?  Wal,  that's  kinder 
funny.  An'  yer  don't  want  ter  be  took 
up,  eh?  Seems  to  me,  young  man,  as 
you're  summat  of  er  spy,  an'  being  such, 
we'll  jest  do  our  cause  a  service  by  turn- 
in'  you  over." 

Jack  saw  that  his  only  hope  of  escape 
was  by  intimidation. 

"Well,"  he  spoke  up  briskly,  "you 
fellows  just  let  me  get  within  sight  of  an 
officer  or  sentinel  and  I'll  show  you 
mighty  quick  what  I  am."" 

The  two  ruffians  quailed  a  bit  at  this 
speech. 

"We'll  go  through  yer  duds  an'  see 
what  ye've  got  about  yer,  anyhow,"  said 
Bill,  advancing  once  more  upon  Jjick. 

Our  hero  had  by  this  time,  however, 
fully  recovered  his  senses  and  made  up 
his  mind  as  to  how  he  should  act. 

He  drew  off  and  with  a  clenched  fist 
struck  Bill  a  terrific  blow  in  the  face. 

Bill  fell  like  a  log,  while  Jack  turned 
and  avoided  the  deadly  stroke  which  Bob 
aimed  at  him  with  his  bludgeon. 

With  a  clear  way  Jack  now   started  to 

climb  the  fence  and  continue  his  escape. 

He  had  scarcely   mounted   to  the  top, 

however,  before  a  loud  shot   broke  the 

stillness  of  the  night. 

This  was  instantly  followed  by  several 
loud  shouts  of  "  Halt!" 

Jack  looked  back  and  through  the 
darkness  saw  several  dusky  forms  climb- 
ing the  fence  which  inclosed  the  opposite 
side  of  the  yard  into  which  he  had  de- 
scended. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


17 


The  flashing  of  weapons  and  the  ioud 
noise  which  th^y  made  told  Jack  at  once 
that  they  beloug»»a  To  the  nijjht  guard. 

Bob,  too,  had  by  this  time  once  more 
got  into  action  and  ^eued  on  Jack's  leg 
■with  a  stout  hold. 

"Let  go,  you  villain!'-  exclaiujed  Jack 
in  desperatit)n  as  he  gave  ^ob  a  blow  on 
the  pate  that  produced  tne  same  effect  on 
him  as  it  h»vd  on  liis  companion. 

Once  more  unencumbered  Jack  slid 
over  the  fence  just  as  the  guard  jeached 
it. 

He  broke  into  a  run  in  the  shadow, 
and  had  just  reached  the  street  when  he 
ran  directly  into  the  arms  of  an  ofiticer, 
who  was  accompanied  by  two  privates. 

"  Heaven  save  me!"  murmured  Jack  to 
himself,  for  one  fleeting  glance  into  the 
face  of  the  man  who  held  him  was  suf- 
ficient to  show  him  that  his  captor  was 
Qone  other  than  Captain  Fred  Jackson. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

HANGING  IN  MID  AIR. 

"So,  my  slippery  bird,  you've  come  up 
with  a  round  turn  at  last,  eh?"  exclaimed 
Jackson  when  he  recognized  that  his  cap- 
tive was  Jack;  "here,  boys,"  he  contin- 
ued, shoving  Jack  toward  his  two  com- 
panions, "  take  care  of  this  fellow.  If 
you  let  him  get  away  now  it'll  be  as  much 
as  your  life  is  worth." 

These  words  were  scarcely  out  of  Jack- 
son's mouth  and  his  men  had  no  chance 
to  observe  his  orders  before  the  men  who 
had  fired  on  Jack  came  up  with  a  rush. 

The  foremost  jostled  rudely  against 
Tackson  in  ti»e  dark,  Avhereupon  the  lat- 
ter yelled: 

"  Look  out  there  where  you're  going! 
Can't  you  use  your  eyes?" 

"Oh,  you  wretch  !"  came  from  the 
other,  and  in  a  flash  he  had  grasped 
Jackson  about  the  neck  and  borne  him 
to  the  ground.  "  You  will  plot  against 
my  life,  will  j'ou?" 

It  was  Paul  Wilson,  and  in  a  fever  of 
rage  he  had  thrown  himself  upon  his 
cousin. 

Everything  was  instantly  confusion. 

Jackson's  two  companions  forgot  all 
about  their  captive  and  hastened  to 
separate  the  two  men  who  were  now  roll- 
ing about  on  the  ground  in  a  deadly 
struggle. 

The  man  who  had  come  up  with  Paul 
did  the  same. 

Jack  was  not  long  in  seizing  the  oppor- 
tunity to  flee. 

He  sped  down  the  dark  street  like  the 
wind. 

He  had  not  traveled  far  before  he  saw 
Uie  gleam  of  water  before  him. 


"  It's  the  Mississippi,"  he  exclaimed  to 
himself,  and  the  next  instant  he  had  di- 
rected his  course  towartl  it. 

At  the  same  time  he  heard  far  behind 
him  the  loud  outcry  and  hubbub  which 
told  him  at  once  that  he  was  pursued. 

Anotiier  half-mile  run  brodght  liim  to 
the  edge  of  the  high  bank  which  de- 
scended to  the  river. 

The  bank  was  at  this  point  so  precip- 
itous that  it  would  have  been  at  the  risk 
of  his  life  to  have  tried  to  climb  down  it. 

Every  moment  his  pursuers  were  get- 
ting nearer. 

There  was  no  possible  place  of  conceal- 
ment about  him. 

There  was  no  time  to  try  to  reach  a 
point  where  he  might  make  a  safe  de- 
scent. 

He  stooped  over  in  the  darkness  and  felt 
the  side  of  the  bank  in  the  hope  of  find- 
ing a  crevice  where  he  might  lodge  his 
foot. 

As  ne  did  so  his  hand  came  in  contact 
with  a  heavy  twig  projecting  from  the 
bank. 

In  a  moment  his  mind  was  made  up. 

"Ill  risk  it,  anyhow,"  Jack  said  to 
himself,  and  grasping  hold  of  the  frail 
support  with  both  hands,  he  swung  him- 
self slowly  and  lightly  over  the  edge  of 
the  bank. 

In  another  moment  he  would  have 
been  caught,  for  he  had  scarcely  disap- 
peard  below  the  bank  before  three  of  his 
pursuers  came  rushing  up  breathlessly 
and  halted  on  the  very  brink. 

"Queer,"  exclaimed  one  of  them,  as  he 
scanned  all  about  him.  ''  I  was  sure  I 
saw  liis  light  uniform  aliead  of  us  all  the 
time,  and  here  he's  disappeared  as  sud- 
denly as  though  the  earth  had  swallowed 
him  up." 

"Mebbe  he  rushed  over  the  bank  in 
the  dark,"  continued  one  of  the  others. 

"Not  if  he  had  any  eyes  at  all  in  his 
head,"  answered  the  first,  "and  I'm 
pretty  sure  he  had,  and  sharp  ones, 
too."  •  ■        '      - 

"  Well,  the  best  thing  we  can  <d  now 
is  to  go  back  and  report  we  caut  find 
him,  and  then  there'll  be  the  dev^il  to 
pay,"  answered  the  third  man,  as  the 
three  started  to  turti  back. 

Jack's  hold  on  his  support  was  by  this 
time  becominL"-  very  infirm,  and  he  felt 
every  momtnt  that  he  must  let  go. 
Moreover,  the  twig;  itself  was  beginning 
to  show  alarming  signs  of  giving  away. 

It  snapped  ominously  once  or  tw'ice, 
and  then  just  when  the  three  men  wtre 
leaving  the  spot  fur  good  it  broke  short 
off  and  sent  Jack  spinning  below. 

"That's  him,"  they  exclaimed  in  one 
breath.  "To  the  beach;  we'll  surely 
find  him  dead  there  after  such  a  fall." 


18 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

AMID  FLAME   AND   SMOKE. 

Jack's  fall  was  rapid,  but  through  it 
all  he  managed  to  retain  his  senses. 

Even  in  after  years  he  never  foi-got 
the  fleeting  thoughts  which  passed 
through  his  mind  during  that  terrible 
descent. 

Home,  mother,  Rachel,  his.  mission, 
his  future,  and  a  thousand  other  things 
flitted  thi-ough  his  brain,  rfnd  all  com- 
bined to  form  a  wish    that  he  might  live. 

But  he  could  not  hope  for  that. 

Below  him  was  the  low,  sandy  beach, 
and  though  he  might  even  be  so  fortunate 
as  to  land  upon  his  feet,  he  could  not 
hope  to  withstand  such  an  awful  shock. 

At  the  very  instant  when  he  had  given 
up  all  hope  of  living  through  the  fall,  his 
foot  lightly  struck  a  ledge  in  the  project- 
ing rock. 

Quicker  than  a  flash  Jack  exerted  all 
his  t^ti-ength  and  pushed  himself  far  out 
from  the  bank. 

It  was  his  salvation,  for  in  another  in- 
stant he  had  dropped  into  the  shallow 
water  of  tlie  Mississippi. 

The  shock  was  of  cour.se  a  severe  one, 
but  the  cool  water  quickly  restored  him 
to  full  consciousness,  and  he  struck  out' 
manfully  for  a  small  cabin  that  was 
built  a  little  way  from  the  shore. 

A  few  strong  strokes  brought  him  to 
it  and  with  a  light  leap  he  found  himself 
seated  upon  a  few  rougli  unsteadj' planks 
which  served  for  a  walk  about  the  little 
cabin. 

He  had  scarcely  regained  his  breath 
before  two  well-known  but  vastly  differ- 
ent sounds  reached  his  ears. 

One  came  from  the  shore,  distant  from 
him  only  a  few  paces — it  was  the  con- 
fused voices  of  his  pursuers;  the  other 
came  from  far  out  on  the  river^t  was 
the  long,  loud  boom  of  a  cannon. 

"  It's  the  Yankee  fleet  trying  to  pass 
the  town!"  exclaimed  Jack,  referring  to 
the  latter  sound  and  unconsciously  duck- 
ing his  head  as  he  heard  the  great  shot 
whistle  by  some  distance  from  him  and 
strike  the  higli  bank  with  a  deep  thud. 
"  Now  if  I  was  only  aboard  one  of  those 
ships  what  a  relief  it  would  bel'' 

But  Jack  had  lictle  time  to  soliloquize. 
Almost  before  the  dull  boom  of  the  first 
shot  had  died  away  on  the  night  air  he 
saw  the  long  line  of  Confederate  batteries 
on  the  brow  of  the  hill  belch  forth  their 
awful  missives  of  destruction  and  make 
the  darkness  lurid  and  thick  with  flame 
and  smoke. 

The  Union  fleet  replied  with  interest, 
and  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  moments, 
during  which  each  side  seemed  to  be  try- 
ing to  get  the  exact  lay  of  the  others 


position,  both  sides  had  begun  a  fierce 
midnight  cannon-battle. 

Jack's  position  was  not  asafeand  much 
less  a  comfortable  one. 

He  was  directly  in  the  range  of  the 
Yankee  guns,  and  every  few  moments  a 
great  cannon-ball  would  whiz  by  his  head 
and  cause  him  to  shiver  as  he  heard  it 
plow  its  way  into  the  bank. 

"  I've  got  to  get  out  of  this  pretty 
quick,  or  I'll  be  getting  one  of  those  big 
fellows  so  close  that  there  won't  be  any- 
thing left  of  me.  I  can't  go  back  to  the 
store,  for  the  whole  town  is  now  awake 
and  I'd  be  gobbled  up  in  less  than  a  jiffy. 
Grant  will  need  those  papers  mighty 
quick  now,  too,  for  he'll  want  to  move  on 
the  town  with  the  fleet  in  front  here  like 
that.  Now  if  I  could  only  reach  one  of 
those  little  fighters  out  there  in  the  river 
they'd  make  short  work  of  setting  me  on 
land  in  the  right  place.  I'll  risk  it,  anj'- 
way.  I  know  ifs  mighty  dangerous  to 
venture  out  there  with  those  rebel  balls 
falling  like  hail,  but  I'd  rather  be  killed 
out  there  by  a  rebel  ball  than  to  be  gored 
to  pieces  here  by  a  Yankee  one  without 
trying  to  help  myself." 

As  he  finished  a  great  whizzing  shot 
struck  the  corner  of  the  shanty,  ripped  a 
dozen  boards  from  their  places  ^ud  scat- 
tered them  dangerously  about  Jack's 
heail. 

"  That's  a  Godsend  if  it  was  a  close  es- 
cape!'' he  exclaimed,  and  instantly  he 
started  to  arrange  them  in  a  raft. 

Three  of  them  together  he  found  would 
support  him  easil)'.  A  fourth  he  used  as 
a  paddle. 

Removing  his  shoes  and  coat  to  be 
readj'  for  any  emer^  ency,  and  satisfying 
himself  that  his  precious  volume  was 
safe,  he  knelt  upon  his  frail  craft,  and 
pushing  off  started  to  paddle  braveh"  out 
into  the  river  which  now  seemed  like  a 
mass  of  flame  and  smoke. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
vow    OF    A    FIEND. 

Let  US  rieturn  for  a  moment  to  see  how 
the  affair  between  Jackson  and  his  cousin 
has  progressed. 

Tlie  two  men  were  very  evenly  matched 
in  strength,  but  the  impetuosity  of  Paul 
Wilson's  attack  had  given  him  an  advan- 
tage which  he  was  not  slow  in  making 
use  of.  His  rage  was  perfectly  unre- 
strained, and  with  the  fierceness  of  a 
tiger  he  fastened  his  fingers  into  Jutek- 
son's  throat  with  a  clutch  that  shortly 
forbode  disaster  to  that  worthy. 

Jackson  was  black  in  the  face  and  his 
strength  had  entirely  left  him  before  the 
onlookers  could  tear  Paul  away. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


11) 


When  they  finally  did  succeed  in  sepa- 
rating the  two  men  and  held  tliem  apart 
Paul,  with  a  glaring  eye,  looked  into  the 
livitl  face  of  his  cousin  and  fairly  shouted 
in  his  anger: 

"You're  a  miserable,  skulking  villain; 
and  tliQugh  thwarted  now,  I  intend  to 
get  even  with  you  by  my  own  hands. 
But  I'll  be  man  enough  to  give  you  a 
show  and  not  strike  you  down  like  a 
coward." 

Jackson  never  answered  a  word,  but 
calling  his  men  to  him,  whispered: 

"Where's  the  Yankee?'' 

*•  He's  gone,  with  some  of  the  men  after 
him." 

"Then  we'll  follow."  And  they  started 
in  the  direction  Jack  and  his  pursuers 
had  taken. 

But  Paul  and  the  men  who  accom- 
panied him  did  not  continue  the  chase. 

He  dismissed  them  with  a  word,  and 
then  taking  a  hasty  look  in  the  direction 
in  which  his  cousin  had  gone  strode 
hastily  down  an  opposite  street. 

A  brisk  walk  of  ten  minutes  brought 
him  to  his  quarters. 

Ho  rearranjieil  his  clothing,  picked  up 
several  jirticles  which  seemed  to  betoken 
his  departure  on  a  journey,  and  then 
hastened  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
oflHeer  of  the  day. 

"I  want  a  permit  for  seven  daj^s' ab- 
sence,'' he  said,  saluting  that  ofBcial. 

"  But  do  you  not  hear  the  guns  of  the 
enemy  and  our  own  warning  us  of  a  land 
attack  in  the  near  future?  We  cannot 
spare  you  in  the  present  exigency,"  an- 
swered the  .officer  of  the  day  cleeisi  vely. 

"Then  I  shall  apply  to  General  Pem- 
"berton;  this  is  a  matter  which  maj'  mean 
life  and  death.  I  must  go,  if  rot  with 
ofBcial  permission,  then  without  it,"  and 
Paul  strode  out  of  the  room. 

Another  brisk  walk  brought  Paul-  to 
the  headquarters  of  Pemberton.  A  few 
-words  and  the  exchange  of  the  counter- 
sign gave  him  admittance  to  the  presence 
of  an  aide. 

"  I  want  to  see  General  Pemberton," 
Paul  announced. 

"  Bat  he  is  indisposed  and  cannot  be 
disturbed,"  replied  the  aide,  firmly. 

"But  I  must  see  him;  he  is  surely 
awake  wirh  all  this  bombardment  going 
on.  Go  to  him,  please,  and  tell  him  that 
I  wish  but  a  moment's  conference  which 
may  niean  much  to  me." 

Paul's  voice  shook  a  httle  as  he  made 
this  request,  and  the  aide,,  seeing  that 
the  young  officer  was  stransely  moved, 
left  the  room. 

In  five  minutes  he  returned. 

"General  Pemberton  will  see  you 
now,"  he  announced,  briefly. 

Paul   therefore  hastened  into  the  pres- 


ence of  tlie  Confederate  leader,  whom  he 
fount!  propped  up  in  bed,  surroimdwd  by 
several  of  his  statT. 

Paul  made  Ids  salute,  and  then  said, 
hastily: 

"  General,  the  oflBcer  of  the  day  refused 
me  permission  to  leave  the  city  for  a  few 
days.  As  it  may  be  a  matter  of  more 
than  ordinary  moment,  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  applying  to  you." 

"  Why  do  you  desire  to  go?"' 

Paul  approached  the  bedside,  and  in 
tones  too  low  to  be  heard  by  the  officers 
present,  whispered: 

"  I  have  a  cousin,  a  member  of  the 
army  now  in  the  city,  who  is  plotting 
against  my  life.  Having  failed  in  his  at- 
tempt on  it,  I  fear,  for  reasons  which  I 
cannot  divulge,  that  he  will  turn  his 
liatred  against  n)y  two  sisters  alone  at 
home.  In  'the  present  emergency  I  de- 
sire to  go  to  them  and  place  them  beyond 
the  reach  of  his  villainous  hands." 

"But  at  present  we  need  the  assistance 
of  every  man.  In  another  twenty-four 
hours  Grant  may  have  surrounded  us  by 
land,"  said  the  general. 

,"  And  delay  may  mean  the  wrecking  of 
my  home,  and  the  loss  of  two  dearly- 
beloved  sisters." 

"Well,  you  may  go,"  he  responded, 
after  a  moment's  pause,  and  Paul,  thank- 
ing him  earnestly,  left  the  room. 

"And  now  for  home  and  to  protect 
them,"  he  murmured,  as  with  furlough 
carefully  sealed  in  his  pocket  lie  made 
his  way  through  the  outer  lines. 

Jackson  continued  after  Jack's  pursu- 
ers, and  finally  found  them  at  the  water's 
edge. 

'•  He's  escaped,"  they  said,  briefly. 

"  Escaped,  you  fools!"  Jackson  cried, 
in  alarm.     "But  where?     How?'' 

The  men  briefly  explained. 

"By  heaven,  I  will  not  be  foiled,"  he 
exclaimed,  angrily;  "here,  men.  go  to 
your  places;  I  need  you  no  more." 

.  Jackson  gazed  .at  their  retreating  fig- 
ures, nodded  his  head  as  a  whistling'  shot 
passed  in  close  proximity  to  his  ear,  and 
then  hastened  to  a,  place  of  safety.  Here 
he  stopped  to  think. 

"  By  heaven  1"  he  muttered,  '•  I'll  make 
both  these  fools  suffer  for  their  worKaad 
that  in  a  waj'  they  little  anticipate." 

He  paused  for  a  moment  with  his  fin- 
gers on  his  lips. 

"  I  have  it,"  he  finally  exclaimed,  with 
a  fienilish  gasp  of  exultation.  "I 
never  can  hope  to  win  Rachel  now,  for 
that  Yank  stands  in  the  way.  For  the 
rest  of  the  faujily  I  don't  care  a  straw. 
They're  as  well  out  of  the  world  as  in  it, 
and  it'll  be  one  way  of  paying  cff  my 
score  against  Paul.  By  heaven.  I'll  do 
it,  and  do  it  riglit  awavl" 


20 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

HEDGED   IN  BY   FLAMES. 

In  another  lioui-  Fred  Jackson  was 
slowly  working  his  way  through  the  Con- 
federate outposts,  for'he  was  leaving  his 
coiuiuand  without  a  permit. 

Several  times  he  narrowly  escaped 
being  seen  by  the  sentries  who,  in  view 
of  the  firing  on  the  river  front,  had  re- 
ceived orders  to  double  their  vigilance. 

When  he  had  finally  cleared  the  lines 
he  laroke  into  a  run,  which  he  kept  up 
until  he  reached  the  little  railroad  sta- 
tion, where  he  intended  to  take  a  train 
for  the  nearest  point  to  the  Wilson 
homestead. 

He  was  just  about  to  enter  the  little 
building  that  served  as  a  depot  when, 
happening  to  glance  through  the  window 
into  the  little  waiting-room,  he  saw  the 
form  of  his  cousin,  Paul  Wilson,  drawn 
up  on  a  seat  with  his  head  bent  as  if  in 
deep  thought. 

"By  heaven,  he's  bound  for  home, 
too,"  exclaimed  Jackson  as  he  stepped 
back  into  the  shadow;  "now,  curse  it, 
that  will  spoil  all  my  plans." 

He  meditated  a  moment  and  then  an 
expression  of  exultation  crossed  his 
face,  "no,  he  must  perish  with  them. 
Let  the  work  be  done  up  brown,"  he 
mattered  half-aloud. 

A  long  wait  of  an  hour  in  the  early 
morning  hours  was  finally  rewarded  by 
the  arrival  of  the  train. 

Both  men  leaped  lightly  aboard,  but 
Jackson  took  pains  not  to  be  seen  by  his 
cousin. 

He  bundled  himself  up  in  the  rear 
coach  when  he  saw  Paul  take  the  middle 
04ie. 

It  was  broad  daj- light  when  the  train 
drew  iiito  the  station  near  the  Wilson 
hoiuestead.  Paul  hastened  from  the 
train  and  taking  the  first  vehicle  at  hand 
started  for  his  home. 

Jackson  alighted  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  train,  and  when  it  pulled  out  of 
the  station  Paul  was  almost  out  of  sight 
around  a  bend  in  the  road. 

"  So  good,  so  far,"  chuckled  Jackson, 
as  he  made  his  way  slowl}'  into  the 
station,  which  at  that  early  hour  was 
almost  entirely  unoccupied;  "now  if  I 
can  only  manage  to  keep  out  of  their 
sight  until  to-night,  it'll  be  good-by  Paul 
Wilson  and  his  ha-jghty  little  sister  and 
the  rest  of  the  household.  And  as  for 
that  Yank;ee  liireling,  Stanley,  why,  he'll 
find  I'm  able  to  balk  his  little  game  in  a 
way  that  he  won't  like." 

Before  the  station-master  or  his  assist- 
ants had  a  chance  to  recognize  him, 
Jackson  hurried  down  the  road  toward 
the  Wilson  home  on  foot.     Within  half  a 


mile  of  it  he  stopped  and  found  a  hiding- 
place  in  a  deserted  outhouse. 

The  day  passed  slowly  to  Jackson.  He 
would  have  suffered  severely  from  hun- 
ger had  not  the  spirit  of  revenge  which 
had  taken  so  complete  possession  of  him 
occupied  all  his  thoughts. 

But  night  came  at  last,  and  with  its 
approach  he  left  his  place  of  concealment 
and  made  his  way  cautiously  toward  the 
Wilson  homestead. 

Like  a  thief  in  the  night  he  sneaked 
about  the  venerable  building  and  gazed 
in  at  all  the  windows. 

He  saw  his  cousin  Paul  in  the  center  of 
the  happy  home  circle,  surrounded  by 
the  anxious  faces  of  his  pretty  cousins 
and  aunt. 

He  ground  his  teeth  in  rage  at  the 
sight,  and  longed  for  the  moment  when 
he  yiight  begin  his  diabolical  work  in 
safety. 

"  Paul  has  scented  danger  and  has  hur- 
ried home  here  to  try  to  prevent  it.  But 
he  little  expects  how  I  shall  strike  him. 
You  are  doomed,  my  man,  along  with  the 
fair  ones  about  you."  And  Jacksou 
shook  his  fist  fiercely  at  the  unconscious 
group. 

At  length  he  saw  the  lights  in  the 
house  go  out  one  by  one. 

"They're  retiring,"  he  said.  "In  an- 
other hour  I  can  begin  my  work." 

The  hour  came  and  found  Jackson  in- 
tent on  his  work. 

Opening  one  of  the  basement  windows 
of  the  house,  he  entered  and  made  his 
way  along  to  the  fuel  room.  Here  l.e 
gathered  together  an  armful  of  shavings 
and  light  wood,  and  carrying  it  softly  u^ 
to  the  first  floor,  deposited  it  carefully  iu 
several  places  throughout  the  house. 

Then  he  returned,  and  procuring  a 
large  can  of  oil,  poured  it  liberally  upon 
and  about  each  pile  of  shavings. 

"I'll  make  a  sure  job  ot  it,"  he  mur- 
mured, as  he  paused  in  his  work  and 
looked  up  the  main  stair-way,  at  the  foot 
of  which  he  intended  to  begin  his  fiendish 
work. 

The  house  was  completely  wrapped  in 
slumber. 

The  occasional  tapping  of  a  branch 
swayed  by  the  light  breeze  against  a  win- 
dow pane  was  the  only  sound  that  broke 
the  stillness  of  the  night. 

But  the  quiet  seemed  to  work  no  effect 
on  Jackson. 

Stealthily  he  took  a  match  from  his 
pocket,  and  igniting  it  applied  the  flame 
to  a  little  fuse  of  oil  and  shavings  which 
connected  with  the  pile  at  the  stair- way. 

When  he  saw  it  blaze  up  he  hastened 
to  the  rear  stair-way,  where  he  had  ar- 
ranged aijother  heap  of  inflammable  stuff 
and  lit  that  also. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


31 


Then  the  two  remaining  heaps  were 
hastily  ignited. 

So  fast  did  the  first  heap  burn  and  so 
well  was  it  arranged  that  before  Jackson 
had  finished  his  work  tlie  whole  front 
Gtair-way  was  in  flames  and  dense  clouds 
of  smoke  were  rolling  through  the  liouse. 

Woodwork  and  carpets  and  curtains 
and  furniture  quickly  added  fierceness  to 
the  flames,  and  almost  before  Jackson 
had  time  to  reach  a  window,  open  it  and 
leap  lightly  out  upon  the  lawn  and  sneak 
away  into  the  shadow  of  a  neighboring 
hedge  from  which  he  could  watch  in 
safety  the  progress  ofi  his  fiendish  work, 
the  whole  lower  story  of  the  house  was  a 
raging  furnace. 

The  flames  as  they  rolled  out  of  the 
lower  windows  lit  up  the  night  and  made 
it  as  light  as  day. 

Suddenly  Jackson  saw  a  startled  face 
appear  at  an  upper  window.- 

The  next  instant  the  window  was 
thrown  hastily  open  and  a  voice  raised 
high  above  the  roar  of  the  flames  shouted: 

"Help!  help!". 

It  was  Paul  Wilson. 

For  an  instant  he  gazed  wildly  out 
upon  the  night  and  then  turning  back 
upon  the  flames  that  were  already 
beginning  to  light  up  the  second  story 
windows  seemed  to  dasli  directly  into 
them. 

Paul  had  scarcely  disappeared  from 
view  before  Jackson  saw  two  wliite, 
frightened  faces  appear  at  another 
window. 

/  "  It's  Rachel  and  TeddyJ"  he  exclaiuaed, 
with  a  chuckle  of  fiendish  glee;  '•  ah,  ha, 
my  fine  birds,  you've  cast  your  last  saucy 
loo'-\s  on  me?" 

The  two  girls  attempted  to  raise  their 
windows  but  could  not.  Then  they  beat 
frantically  against  the  glass  but  it  did 
not  yield  to  their  efforts. 

Dense  clouds  of  smoke  rolled  about 
their  half-clad  forms.  Now  and  then  a 
sheet  of  flame  shot  into  their  room. 

Then  suffocated  and  overcome  by  the 
smoke  and  heat  they  both  sunk  to  the 
floor  out  of  sight. 

"  That  ends  them!"  exclaimed  Jackson, 
as  he  rose  to  his  feet  and  started  to  quit 
the  scene. 


CHAPTER  XVIL 

STOPPED  BY  A  BRACK   OF  PISTOLS. 

"  I  hope  I  may  never  get  into  such  a 
tight  place  again,  if  I  ever  live  to  get 
safely  out  of  this,"  exclaimed  Jack,  as 
amid  a  shower  of  shells,  shot  and  flame, 
and  surrounded  by  clouds  of  smoke  so 
thick  that  he  could  scarcely  see  the 
gun-boats  for  which   he  was  steering,  he 


paddled  his  way  slowly  out  into  the 
Mississippi.  « 

His  work  of  itself  was  most  difficult,  for 
his  raft  was  unwieldy  and  his  means  of 
locomulion  very  crude  and  exhaust'ing. 

Adding  to  this  the  terrors  of  his  most 
dangerous  situation,  the  fear  that  every 
instant  a  'hurtling  cannon-ball  would 
sweep  him  to  death,  it  may  readily  be 
seen  that  Jack's  wish  was  not  without 
some  reason. 

But  inspired  by  the  immediate  impor- 
tance of  his  work  he  pressed  on  with  all 
the  strength  at  bis  command.  Twice 
shots  from  the  Confederate  batteries  tore 
away  sections  of  his  scanty  support  and 
he  was  almost  on  the  point  of  takin-r  to 
the  water  entirely  when  a  shell  : -f  so 
close  to  him  that  in  exploding  a  pic^ce  of 
it  struck  the  remaining  plank  and  swept 
it  from  beneath  him. 

The  next  instant  he  was  floundering 
about  in  the  water.  " 

The  board  which  he  held  in  his  hands 
he  pushed  out  before  him. 

It  afforded  him  support  and  with  his 
feet  he  managed  to  make  some  progress. 

In  his  dilemma  he  did  not  forget  the 
precious  volume  beneath  his  coat,  but 
managing  to  extricate  it  before  it  was 
very  wet  he  placed  it  beneath  his  cap. 

Suddenly  there  loomed  up  directly 
before  him  the  great  black  side  of  an 
iron-clad. 

"Saved,"  thought  Jack. 

But  alas,  the  next  instant  a  piece  of 
shell  struck  his  left  arm  just  below  the 
elbow  and  cut  a  long  gash  in  the  flesh. 

The  blood  flowed  freely  and  caused  our 
hero  to  loosen  the  hold  of  his  left  hand 
upon  his  support. 

Still  he  pushed  on. 

The  loss  of  blood  was  weakening  but 
the  object  his  journey  was  to  attain  was 
worth  more  to  his  country  than  his  life. 

His  heart  finally  gave  a  great  throb  of 
joy  as  through  the  thick  smoke  he  saw 
that  he  had  reached  the  side  of  the 
Union  iron-clad. 

But  still  he  was  in  a  dilemma. 

Above  the  awful  roar  of  artillery  he 
could  not  expect  to  make  his  voice  heard 
by  the  men  aboard. 

And  the  great  black  sides  of  the  vessel, 
with  here  and  there  a  port-hole  from 
which  a  cannon  protruded,  afforded  him 
no  chance  of  making  himself  seen. 

"I'm  as  bad  off 'as  ever,"'  he  murmured 
as  he  looked  up  at  the  belching  mouths 
of  the  cannon  above  him. 

Then  an  inspiration  struck  him  and  he 
pushed  his  way  along  to  the  bow  of  the 
boat. 

A  moment's  search  was  sufficient  for 
him  to  discover  a  projecting  iron  rod  on 
which  he  laid  firm  hold  and  managed   to 


CAPTAIIS  JACK. 


drajr  himself  slowly  out  of  the   water  on 
to  the  boat.    • 

He  clambered  along  its  side  until  he 
reached  a  port-hole. 

Here  he  waited  until  he  saw  the 
cannon  which  projected  from  it  discharge 
its  missile  of  destruction. 

Wlien  it  was  pulled  back  to  be  re- 
loaded and  the  port-hole  was  left  vacant 
Jack  quickly  slid  down  and  crawled 
througli  into  the  midst  of  a  group  of 
astonished  gunners. 

Intent  as  they  were  on  their  work  they 
all  stopped  when  Jack  made  his  appear- 
ance, and  gazed  at  him  with  puzzled 
eves. 

"  •■  Whv,  he's  a  Johnnie,"  exclaitiied  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  gun,  noticing  the 
grav  suit  wliich  Jack  still  wore. 

"No,  Fm  not,  sir,"  responded  Jack, 
quieth',  "and  I'll  trouble  you  to  show 
nie  to  the  captain  at  once." 

Jack's  words  carried  weight,  and  in  a 
moment  more  he  was  ushered  into  the 
presence  of  the  captain  of  the  iron-clad. 

A  few  words  explained  iiis  mission,  his 
adventures,  and  his  urgent  desire  to 
reach  land  and  return  to  General  Grant 
as  scon  as  possiVjle. 

"Well  done,  my  brave  boy,"  exclaimed 
the  captain,  as  he  gazed  in  admiration  at 
the  modest  and  youthful  figure  before 
him.  "You'll  get  a  mention  for  this, 
surely.     But  your  arm,  what  ails  it?" 

"Oh,  it's  only  a  scratch.  A  piece  of 
shell  and  it  got'into  a  contest  out  there, 
and  t!ie  flesh  had  to  give  in,"  said  Jack, 
with  a  grim  smile.  "I'll  trouble  you  to 
have  the  surgeon  fix  it  up,  though." 

"To  be  sure,"  and  Jack's  wounded 
member  was  soon  neath*  bound  up. 

"And  now,  if  you'll  kindly  assist  nie 
in  reaching  a  t^Tace  along  the  shore, 
you'll  be  doing  General  Grant  a  great 
favor,  I'm  sure."  said  Jack,  as  he  moved 
toward  the  door. 

"  1  dislike  to  have  any  of  mj'  men  ven- 
ture into  such  a  storm  of  iron  as  this," 
answered  the  captain,  slowly. 

"But  I've  just  come  through  it  with 
only  a  scratch." 

"Well,  since  it's  so  important,  I  sup- 
pose 1  must  risk  it.  You  can't  wait  till 
morning  or  until  this  fight  closes,  I  sup- 
pose?" 

"  I  can't  wait  ten  minutes,"  responded 
Jack,  decisively.  "If  you  can't  give  me 
any  help,  why  I'll  have  to  try  it  alone, 
that's  all." 

"Oh,  I  couldn't  think  of  that,"  safd  the 
captain,  and  he  ordered  two  of  his  men 
to  launch  a  small  boat  from  the  unex- 
Dosed  side  ol"  his  craft,  and  implicitly 
^^y  Jack's  orders. 

"ack  nastily  made  use  of  the  captain's 
offer. 


Leaping  into  the  small  boat,  he  took 
the  tiller  and  commanded  the  two  men 
to  take  the  oars  and  pull  hard. 

They, did  as  ordered,  and  Jack  steered 
deftly  through  the  great  flotilla  of  Union 
boats  without  the  slightest  injury,  and 
was  soon  making  for  a  point  of  land  some 
distance  above  Vicksburg,  which  an 
hour's  hard  pull  enabled  him  to  reach. 

Jack  leaped  lightly  ashore  when  the 
boat  touched  land,  and  after  instructing 
the  ^ two  sailors  to  return,  made  his  way 
toward  a  small  cabin  in  the  gray  dusk  ot 
the  morning. 

By  dint  of  much  rapping  and  oft  re- 
peated calls  he  finally  managed  to  arouse 
the  inmates. 

"Wha'  you  want,  wakin'  folks  dis 
yere  time  a-mornin'?" 

"  I  want  to  know  the  way  to  the  Union 
lines,  and  ip  a  hurry,  too,"  replied  Jack. 
"  Take  er  straight  cut 'cross  ribber  t(i 
whar  dem  pesky  gun-boats  been  blaziu' 
'way  an'  keepin'  folks  scart  outen  their, 
wits  all  dis  yere  bressed  night." 

"  But  I  want  to  know  where  the  lines 
on  land  are,"  exclaimed  Jack,  who  could 
not  suppress  a  smile  at  the  negro's  re- 
mark. 

"Oh.  dat's  nuther  thing,  massa,"  and 
the  voice  seemed  to  soften  a  little.  "But 
it's  a  long  way,  nigh  on  twenty-five  miles 
'cross  country,  and  thirty-five  by  road." 
"  Well,  and  where's  the  road?" 
"Take  that  one  yunder,  massa,  an' 
keep  straight  'long  all  de  way  till  you'se 
gets  to  de  Union  seut'uels;  dey'U  tell  you 
de  rest." 

"  And  can  I  get  a  horse  here?" 
"  Han't   got  none    here,     but     mebbe 
you'se    kifi    get  one   up   de  road   by  de 
squire's." 

Without  waiting  for  further  informa- 
tion. Jack  hastened  to  the  road  and 
jogged  along  a  mile  until  he  reached  a 
larire  mansion  with  a  stable  in  the  rear. 

Daj-light  had  no^  yet  fully  come,  so 
Jack  leaped  the  fence  and  entered  the 
open  stable  doors. 

"This  is  a  clear  ease  of  must,"  he  ex- 
claimed to  himself,  as  his  eyes  lit  on  a 
tine-looking  steed.  "  I'll  have  to  take  it 
at  any  cost,"  and  Jack  entered  the  stall 
where  the  animal  stood. 

"I  guess  not,  young  man,"  said  a 
strange  voice  behind  him.  Jack  turned 
about  to  see  where  the  voice  came  from, 
and  found  himself  confronted  by  two 
grav-uniformed  men  and  a  brace  of  vil- 
lainous-looking pistols. 


CHAPTER  SVIU. 

r^'O  JOH3f>riES  FOOLED. 

I      Jack  did   not   lose  his  nerve  for  an  in 

t  stunt- 


CAPTAI2J  JACK. 


Minutes  were  invaluable  iii  his  present 
hasre.  He  knew  that  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  that  he  should  submit  to  no 
delay. 

He  determined  to  put  on  a  bold  face 
and  press  his  way  out. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  fellows  want?"  he 
demanded  angrily,  taking  a  step  toward 
them. 

•'Guess  it's  our  place  ter  ask  what  you 
want,"  said  the  tallest  Confederate,  as  he 
made  a  move  as  if  to  seize  Jack. 

*•  Hands  off  me,"  the  latter  exclaimed, 
drawing  back  a  step.  *'  And  if  you  fel- 
lows continue  to  interrupt  me  I'll  report 
you  to  headquarters." 

This  speech  caused  the  two  pistols  to 
drop.  The  two  i;ebels  looked  at  each 
other  in  dismay.  Finally  the  spokesman 
said: 

"  But  what  right  hev  you  ter  come 
into  er  strange  stable  an'  try  ter  ruu  off 
with  the  best  horse  in  it?" 

"When  a  man's  on  spy  business  from 
headquarters  and  has  orders  to  make 
double-quick  time  and  take  everything 
on  his  way  that  is  necessary  to  help  him 
along,  it's  expected  he'll  have  to  seize  the 
best  horses  he  finds." 

Jack  did  not  risk  this  statement  with- 
out some  backing. 

He  had  figured  its  efTect  and  knew  how 
to  push  it. 

"  But  how  d'we  know  yeraspy?"  asked 
rebel  Ko.  1,  in  a  voice  that  contained  a 
sound  of  respect  and  admiration.  "  How 
do  V  e  know  yer  even  a  Johnnie?" 

"Don't  you  see  I  wear  a  gray  uniform 
the  .same  as  yourself?"  said  Jack,  point- 
ins;  to  the  bedraggled  suit  which  he  had 
taken  from  Fred  Jackson,  and  with  wiiich 
he  had  n<"t  yet  separated. 

'•  Ye^,  that's  all  right,  but  yer  papers? 
Don't  they  tell  as  yer  a  spy?" 

It  was  a  tight  hole  but  Jack  saw  a  way 
out  of    it.     He   quickly    drew    out    the 

f)recious  little  book  which  he  had  pur- 
oined  from  General  Pemberton's  head- 
quarters at  Vicksburg,  and  opening  to 
the  title-page,  displayed  to  the  two  rebels 
that  Confederate  leader's  autograph. 

They  l)oth  looked. at  it  silently  for lome 
time.     Finally,  No.  1  said: 

"Guess  it's  all  right,  eh.  Bill?'' 

Bill's  education  liad  been  restricted. 
and  the  chances  are  that  if  Jack  had 
shown  him  the  ssigiiature  of  General 
Gi'ant  iie  would  have  known  no  more  of 
it  than  he  did  of  the  one  now  displayed. 

Bill,  however,  was  anxious  to  conceal 
his  lack  of  learning,  so  he  slowly  drawled 
out: 

"Wall,  it  looks  er  little  bit  queer,  but 
I  guess  it's  all  light." 

Jack  shut  the  book  and  replaced  it  in 
his  coat. 


'*  I  hope  you're  satisfied  now,"  he  said, 
with  an  assumption  of  dignity. 

"But  hadn't  yer  better  wait  an  hour 
er  so.  Pemberton's  chief  aide's  been 
stoppin'  in  that  house  all  night,  an'  1 
reckon  he'll  be  movin'  shortly.  Don'r 
yer  want  ter  see  him?"  continued  rebel 
No.  1,  with  a  persistence  that  nearly 
caused  Jack  to  lose  his  temper. 

"  I  tell  you  I'm  on  urgent  business 
from  headquarters  anil  can't  stop  to  see 
any  sleeping  aide.  Come,  where's  the 
saddle  for  this  horse?" 

In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  it  the 
two  deluded  Johnnies  had  saddled  the 
horse  and  led  it  out  of  the  stable. 

Jack  then  quickly  mounted,  and  dig- 
ging his  heels  into  the  animal's  sides  made 
toward  the  road.  He  had  hardly  reached 
the  gate  before  he  heard  a  window  iii 
the  house  swing  open  and  a  loud  voice 
cry  out: 

"  Ho  where  are  you  going  with  that 
horse?" 

Jack  turned  his  head  and  saw  the  form 
of  a  partially-clad  Confederate  officer 
protruding  from  the  window. 

"  None  of  your  business,'"  called  back 
Jack. 

The  next  instant  he  was  in  the  road, 
and  with  a  loud  whoop  he  urged  the 
animal  forward  at  full  speed. 

The  discharge  of  a  revolver  and  the 
sound  of  a  bullet  whizzing  past  in  close 
proximity  to  his  ear  told  him  that  he 
was  in  danger.  But  it  would  have  taken 
a  whole  troop  of  whizzing  bullets  to  have 
stopped  Jack  then. 

Before  another  shot  could  be  fired  at 
him  he  was  almost  out  of  range. 

He  smiled  grimly  to  himself  and  then 
turned  to  look  back. 

"  Great  Scott,"  he  exclaimed,  "  they've 
started  after  me!" 

He  was  right.  The  two  rebels  whom 
he  had  so  neatly  fooled  in  the  stable, 
were  now  mounted  and  issuing  into  the 
road.  They  stopped  a  moment  to  re- 
ceive orders  from  the  form  in  the  window; 
then  they  started  in  mad  pursuit  after 
our  hero. 

It  was  an  exciting  race,  but  Jack's 
horse  was  sure-fo>oted  and  long-winded, 
and  though  several  times  his  pursuers 
got  close  enough  to  fire  several  badly- 
aimed  volleys,  they  never  stood  any 
chance  of  overtaking  him,  and  after  a  half- 
hour's  hard  run  finally  gave  up  the 
chase  and  returned  to  the  stables. 

Jack  sped  on  in  the  early  morning 
with  a  haste  that  caused  many  woolly 
heads  which  he  passed  to  shake  in 
wonder,  and  many  voices  to  exclaim: 
"Must  be  gwine  on  mighty  pow'ful 
business!" 
It  was  nearlv  noon  when  Jack  reached 


24 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


the  Union  outposts.  At  first  there  was 
a  little  difficulty  in  getting  through  the 
lines,  owing  to  the  deceiving  uniform 
which  he  wore,  but  once  his  mission 
becoming  known  he  was  urged  hastily 
forward.  A 

"  We're  only  waiting  for  you,  to  begin 
the  forward  movement,"  said  t]ie  first 
officer  he  met. 

Scenes  on  all  sides  confirmed  the 
statement.  Tents  had  been  struck, 
baggage  loaded  and  men  drawn  up  in 
line,  all  ready  for  the  movement  on  the 
Coiifedei-ate  city. 

In  ten  minutes  from  the  time  when 
Jack  passed  the  Union  outposts  he  found 
himself  before  General  Gfrant's  head- 
quarters, an  old  fashioned  stone  building, 
formerly  a  Southern  mansion. 

He  leaped  from  his  hor.'^e  and  started 
for  the  door.  For  the  first  time  he 
thought  of  the  terrible  strain  he  had 
been  under,  and  the  awful  pain  he  was 
suffering  from  his  wounded  arm. 

An  iron  man  could  not  have  endured 
much  more.     It  was  too  mucti  for  Jack. 

Just  as  he  reached  the  door  he  fell  head- 
long in  a  dead  faint. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

SAVED  FROM  FLAMES. 

The  first  man  to  reach  Jack's  side  was 
General  Grant  himself.  He  knelt  down, 
and  raising  our  hero's  head  to  his  knee, 
rubbed  his  cheeks  gently  and  ordered 
one  of  his  aides  to  bring  a  stimulant. 

A  single  draft  served  to  bring  Jack  to 
consciousness.  He  opened  his  eyes  slowly 
anil  looked  up  into  the  general's  face. 

"Excuse  me,  sir;  1  didn't  mean  to  act 
like  this/'  he  said,  in  a  voice  that  told  of 
the  pain  he  was  suffering  from  his 
wounded  arm. 

'•Oil.  that's  all  right,  my  boy,''  re- 
sponded the  general  kindly,  as  he  ordered 
his  aides  to  assist  Jack  into  his  room. 

Jack  was  placed  in  a  big  easy-chair, 
while  General  Grant  took  a  seat  before 
him. 

'"Your  arm,  my  lad;  is  it  hurt?"  he  in- 
quired. 

'■  Only  scratched,"  Jack  replied.  "  It 
can  wait  until  after  I  have  told  you  the 
results  of  my  journey." 

*■  Not  much,"  said  the  general,  hastily. 
"Here,"'  he  continued,  addressing  an 
aide  who  stood  near,  "send  my  surgeon 
here  immediately." 

In  a  moment  that  functionary  ap- 
peared, and  gave  Jack's  arm  a  thorough 
examination  and  dressing. 

"  Nothing  but  a  flesh  wound;  you'll  be 
over  it  in  a  week  or  two,"  he  said,  on  leav- 
ing the  room. 


Jack  then  begun  a  clear  and  concise 
narrative  of  his  experiences. 

The  general  gave  no  sign  of  his  pleas- 
ure, although  he  listened  with  rapt  at- 
tention until  Jack  iianded  him  the 
precious  book. 

He  opened  it,  scanned  it  hastily,  and 
thep  exclaimed: 

"  My  lad,  you're  a  brick!" 

When  Jack  finished  his  story,  which  he 
had  told  with  a  modest  attempt  to  keep 
himself     in     the     background,    General   » 
Grant  grasped   his   uninjured  hand  and 
wrung  in  heartily. 

"My  boy,  you'rs  a  hero.  When  I  sent 
j'ou  out  it  was  with  a  strange  foreboding  , 
that  I  should  never  see  you  again.  I 
appreciated  the  dangers  of  the  task  and 
.should  not  have  been  in  the  least  sur- 
prised if  5'ou  had  never  shown  up  alive. 
But  since  you  have,  and  with  informa- 
tion which  could  not  be  more  complete 
or  rendered  in  better  shape,  I  want  to 
congratulate  you.  And  you  may  bo 
sure,  when  Vicksburg  falls,  as  fall  it 
surely  will,  your  work  will  receive  much 
of  the  credit." 

"I  only  tried  to  do  my  duty  to  you  and 
to  my  country.  I  ask  for  no  other  re- 
ward if  I  am  convinced  that  I  have  done 
that."  said  Jack,  with  a  quivering  voice. 

"You  have  done  your  duty  and  done  it 
noblv,"  responded  General  Grant,  warm- 
ly, "and  you  shall  not  go  without  some 
reward.  But  I  must  hasten  our  forward 
movement.  I  was  waiting  only  for  this 
to  begin  it,"  and  the  next  instant  orders 
were  being  dispatched  in  various  direc- 
tions for  the  advance. 

"And  now,"  the  general  said,  turning 
again  to  Jack,  "I  suppose  you  want  a 
furlough  to  get  rested  up  in?" 

"  Oil,  no,  "  said  our  hero.  "I'drathei 
move  forward  with  the  army,  for  I  want 
to  be  present  when  Vicksburg  falls." 

"  You're  a  pluckj^  lad.  But  never  fear. 
Vicksburg  won't  fall  for  a  while  yet,  and 
meantime  you  can  have  a  couple  of  weeks 
for  your  own  personal  use.  Here's  your 
furlough,"  and  General  Grant  handed 
over  an  official-looking  document,  signed 
by  himself. 

"  I  chank  you,  sir."' 

"  And,  by  the  way,  here's  a  letter  lef< 
here  two  days  ago  by  an  old  colored  man 
who  was  bent  on  putting  it  into  your 
own  hands  until  convinced  that  it  waa 
impossible." 

So  saying,  the  general  took  from  the 
mantel  a  dainty  envelope  and  handed  it 
to  the  spy. 

Jack  tore  it  open  in  haste  and  scanned 
it  hastily,  the  general  observing  it  with 
a  smile. 

"From  3-()ur  sweetheart,  eh?"  he  asked, 
whpn  Jack  looked  up  with  a  red  face. 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


25 


"  Yes,  and  she's  in  trouble,  sir,  and  I 
must  go  to  her  at  once.  You  see,  she 
only  lives  a  short  way  across  the  country 
with  a  youuger"*sister  and  a  maiden  aunt, 
and  it  seems  our  troops  here  have  been 
frightening  and  molesting  them.  You'll 
gpve  me  an  order  for  a  small  guard  to 
protect  them,  will  you  not,  sir?" 

"Assuredly,"  and  in  another  moment 
the  necessary  order  was  in  Jack's  hand. 

'"Thank  you,  sir,"  he  said,  ;is  he  rose  to 
his  feet  and  moved  toward  the  door. 

"But  you're  not  going  to  venture  on 
that  journey  in  your  present  weakened 
condition  and  with  night  coming  on  so 
Boon.     Better  wait  till  morning." 

"No,  I'll  go  now  if  you'll  have  the 
kindness  to  allow  me  the  horse  I  purloined 
this  morning." 

"No,  not  that  one-but  a  better,  one  of 
my  own." 

In  ten  minutes  Jack  was  mounted  arid 
riding  across  the  country  in  the  direction 
of  the  Wilson  home  as  fast  as  his  injured 
arm  and  feeble  condition  would  admit. 

Darkness  had  already  fallen  before 
half  the  journey  had  been  accomplished, 
and  his  stops  to  rest  were  so  frequent 
that  he  feared  his  arrival  would  be  so 
late  as  to  find  the  occupants  of  the  house 
all  retired. 

"I'll  be  able  to  save  them  from  further 
annoyance,  anyway,"  he  consoled  him- 
self, as  he  looked  through  the  night  before 
him  and  listened  to  the  steady  tramp  of 
many  thousand  feet  away  off  to  his  rear. 

At  last  he  readied  the  well-known  road 
on  which  the  Wilson  home  stood.  He 
strained  his  eyes  in  an  attempt  to  see  the 
outlines  of  the  place  that  held  his  love 
when  suddenly,  just  where  he  knew  the 
house  stood,  a  great  flame  shot  up. 

"  It's  fire  !"  exclaimed  Jack,  excitedly, 
and  the  next  instant  he  dug  his  boots 
into  the  sides  of  his  horse  and  dashed 
madly  forward  toward  the  burning 
building. 

The  entire  lower  story  was  ablaze  when 
he  arrived,  and  all  of  the  hands  about 
the  plantation,  who  luckily  lived  in  the 
quarters  apart  from  the  house,  were 
rushing  wildly  around  wringing  their 
hands  in  an  agony  that  allowed  them  no 
opportunity  to  render  assistance  to  the 
imperiled  ones  within. 

Jack  did  not  wait  to  ask  how  the  blaze 
had  started. 

Other  work  than  that  was  cut  out  for 
him  in  the  present  emergency. 

The  first  thing  he  had  distinctly  be- 
held within  the  burning  house  was  the 
figure  of  Rachel,  as  she  sunk  to  the  floor 
before  her  chamber-window. 

"A  ladder!  A  ladderl"  cried  Jack,  in 
a  frenzy,  to  the  old  servant  Mo.-<e,  who 
stood  near  him.     "  Bring  it  quick!" 


But  there  was  no  time  to  wait  for 
ladders. 

Forgetful  of  his  exhausted  condition; 
forgetful  of  his  wounded  arm;  forgetful 
of  everything  but  his  perishing  sweet- 
heart. Jack  rushed  to  the  side  of  the 
building  and  seized  hold  of  a  climbing 
vine  that  had  grown  up  the  window 
ledges  almost  to  the  roof. 

The  vine  held  his  weight,  and  hand 
over  hand  he  ascended  to  the  window  of 
the  young  ladies'  chamber. 

With  his  elbow  he  broke  in  the  panes 
of  glass  and  then  crawled  through  the 
aperture  himself. 

The  smoke  poured  about  him  in  blind- 
ing volumes,  and  the  flames  darted  so 
close  as  almost  to  touch  his  skin. 

He  groped  about  until  his  hand  came 
in  contact  with  warm  flesh. 

"  'Tis  she!"  he  exclaimed,  and  the  next 
instant  he  threw  wide  open  the  window, 
seized  the  slight  form  firmly  beneath  his 
injured  arm,  and  grasping  the  vine  by 
which  he  had  ascendedj^  slid  slowly  to  the 
ground. 

Jack  laid  his  burden  down  and  looked 
into  the  death-like  face. 

It  was  Teddy  he  had  saved. 

Rachel  was  still  in  the  burning  build- 
ing. 

Like  a  flash  he  turned,  and  started  to 
ascend. 

But  help  was  now  close  at  hand.  A 
ladder  had  been  procured,  and  it  was 
raised  to  the  broken  window. 

Two  rounds  at  a  time  Jack  ascended 
it  and  disappeared  into  smoke  and  flame 
while  the  few  spectators  looked  on  in 
terror. 

In  an  instant  he  reappeared  with  a 
white  form  in  his  arms,  and  with  un- 
steady steps  came  down  the  ladder  and 
laid  his  second  burden  beside  the  first. 

"Look  well  to  them!"  he  said  to  the 
women  standing  about.  "They  only 
need  fresh  air  and  stimulant;  give  them 
both.     I've  got  other  work  to  do." 

The  next  moment  he  had  mounted  his 
steed  and  was  plunging  down  the  road. 

"  I'm  sure  it  was  Fred  Jackson  I  saw 
sneaking  away  as  I  came  up.  If  it  was, 
he's  had  a  hand  in  this  awful  work,  and 
if  I  find  him,  by  heaven,  he'll  pay  se- 
verely!" 


CHAPTER  XX. 

COXCLCSIOI^. 

In  spite  of  Jack's  weakened  condition, 
he  had  never  been  so  full  of  fire  as  he 
was  when  he  galloped  down  the  road  in 
pursuit  of  the  man  whom  he  thought  he 
had  recognized  as  Fred  Jackson. 

The   memory  or  all  past  insults  surged 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


throujih  his  mind,  and  coupled  with  the 
•suspicion  that  Rac.hel's  cousin  started 
liie  lire,  they  made  his  brain  surge  and 
liis  heart  call  out  for  reven;;e. 

Jack  iKid  not  traveled  over  half  a  mile 
before  he  caught;  sig:ht  of  the  figure  of  a 
in;iM  .s;:ulkin.<?  along  the  hedge  that  grew 
Iv  tlie  road -side. 

He  rode  up  quickly,  and  leaping  from 
l;is  horse  confronted  tlie  man. 

■'So.  I  was  ri^-ht,  you  miserable 
wretch  ["exclaimed  Jack,  as  he  grasped 
J.ickson— for  it  was  he— by  The  neck. 
•  It  was  you  who  fired  yonder  home  and 
tried  to  'destroy  two  young  lives,  was 
itv" 

.Jackson  trembled  for  an  instant  in 
Jack's  clutch,  then  freeing  himself  he 
retreated  a  step,  and  exclaimed: 

"Yes,  it  was  I  who  did  it.  I'm  not 
afraid  to  acknowledge  it,  now  that  your 
noisy  tongue  is  to  be  stilled  forever,"  and 
as  he  finished  speaking  he  pulled  a  knife 
from  his  pocket  and  made  a  savage  lunge 
at  Jack. 

But  our  hero,  though  unarmed,  was 
prepared  to  receive  the  blow. 

He  seized  the  hand  that  held  the  knife 
and  forced  Jackson  back  a  .step. 

Then  with  a  sudden  movement  be 
threw  his  arm  about  theother's  neck  and 
forced  him  to  the  ground. 

Then  ensued  a  desperate  struggle  for 
the  knife. 

The  two  men  rolled  and  tossed  about, 
lii-st  one  uppermost  and  then  the  other. 

Jack,   however,     always'   managed    to 

kee[)  tlie  blade  away  from  his  own  body. 

But  he  felt  his  strength  goingfast  now, 

and  foresaw  that   if  tlie   contest  was  not 

soon  ended  l:ie  would  be  the  loser. 

Accordingly  he  summoned  all  his 
strength  for  one  grand  effort. 

With  a  grip  of  iron  he  wrenched  Jack- 
son's arm  which  held  the  knife  so  fiercely 
tliat  at  length  that  worthy,  with  a  cry  of 
V)ain,  relinquished  his  hold  and  the  blade 
fell  to  the  ground. 

Like  a  flash,  Jack  raised  himself  to  bis 
knees  and  at  the  same  time  reached  down 
and  picked  up  the  knife. 

Then,  before  his  opponent  could  regain 
lus  feet,  Jack  forced  Jiim  backward  and 
planted  his  knees  on  his  breast.    - 

"You miserable  villain,  prepare  to 
meet  your  just  fate!"  exclaimed  Jack,  as 
he  elevated  the  knife  on  high  preparatory 
to  striking  a  fatal  blow. 

But  something  in  the  man's  terrified 
face  made  him  pause. 

Then  he  continued,  with  a  quick  shake 
of  the  head: 

"  No,  I'll  not  kill  you;  I'll  leave  you  to 
the  law  whicli  I  trust  will  take  care  of 
yon." 

Before    Jack   had    finished     speaking, 


three   figures  on    horseback  '••t'e  up  and 
alighted. 

The  foremost  was  Paul  Wilson;  his 
companions  wei'e  Union  soidiers  who  iiad, 
at  liis  urgent  request,  started  after  Jack 
on  learning  of  his  strange  and  sudden 
flight. 

Paul  grasy)  Jack  by  the  hand,  then 
looked  at  his  cousin. 

"  I  thought  so,"  he  said,  with  a  bitter 
ring  in  his  voice.  "But  I  didn't  think 
that  you  could  stoop  so  low." 

He  turned  to  the  two  soldiers  who  \ver« 
just  about  to  seize  hold  of  Jackson. 

But  the  latter  was  desperate. 

His  last  hope  was  gone,  and  he  knew 
if  he  was  arrested  it  woult}  mean  an 
ignoble  death. 

His  proud  spirit  could  not  bear  that. 

Before  any  one  c.ould  interpose  h< 
seized  his  knife  from  Jack's  grasp  and 
plunged  it  into  his  own  breast. 

He  gave  one  convulsive  gasp  an^l  feli 
over  dead. 

Jack  and  Paul  looked  down  in  horroi 
at  the  bloody  figure,  and  then  all  foui 
men  moved  away,  Paul  with  anlinsteady 
gait  and  a  strange  light  in  his  eyes. 

"lean  never  thank  you  enough  for 
saving  my  sisters,  Jack,"  Paul  said,  as 
they  rode  slowly  back  to  the  burned 
house.  "  I  was  going  to  their  room  my- 
self when  I  met  aunt  fainting  on  tha 
stairs,  and  was  obliged  to  carry  her  out. 
When  I  started  to  return  they  told  m« 
of  your  noble  work.  I  can  never  repay 
you  for  it." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  can,"  responded  Jaekj 
uneasily. 

"How^?" 

"  By  giving  your  consent  to  the  union 
of  Rachel  and  myself." 

"With  all  my  "heart." 

And  so — though  not  until  the  war  was 
over  and  Jack,  by  continued  meritorioui 
service,  had  won  the  rank'  of  colonel- 
there  was  a  quiet  wedding  at  the  newly- 
built  Wilson  home,  -in  which  Jack  antf 
Rachel  were  the  principals,  and  a  loving 
mother  from  a  Northern  home  an  inter- 
ested spectator. 

THK    KXD. 


Running  the  Blockade. 


"  Did  I  ever  tell  vou  about  the  closesi 
shave  of  my  life?"  inquired  the  old  sea 
dog,  as  he  settled  himself  back  in  hia 
arm-chair,  knocking  the  ashes  from  his 
pipe  in  a  meditative  mood. 

He  was  fond  of  spinning  yarns,  fighting 
his  old  battles  over  again,  and,  having 
retired    from  sea,    his  principal  amuse- 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


27 


ment  consisted  in  surroundine:  himself 
in  his  snuf?  bachelor  quarters  with  a 
circle  of  interested  neighbors,  with  a 
ju;;  of  stifT  punch  brewed  by  himself. 

It  was  suspected  by  some  of  the  au- 
dience that  tlie  old  gentleman  sometimes 
indulireil  in  a  sailor's  love  of  romance, 
and  allowed  his  imiigination  to  get  the 
upper  liand  of  his  veracity;  but  no  one 
imong  the  circle  ever  had  the  temerity  to 
intimate  their  suspicions  to  their  host, 
who,  witiiall  his  social  Qualities,  smacked 
slightly  of  the  martinet. 

"'Fill  your  glasses  and  I'll  tell  you 
something  about  the  blockade  in  our 
late  war.  I  am  a  loyal  man,  understand, 
and  love  the  old  flag  with  as  much  de- 
votion as  anyone  afloat;  but  you  see, 
times  were  bad,  the  Alabama  had  raiser! 
the  mischief  with  our  commerce,  so  I 
took  charge  of  the  Fleetwing,  a  full- 
rigged  brig,  and  as  smart  a  craft  as  ever 
crossed  the  Western  ocean. 

"I  remember  her  as  distinctly  as  if  it 
■were  only  yesterday."  and  the' old  man 
sighed  iieavily  as  a  flood  of  bygone  recol- 
lections flitted  through  his  brain^ 

"  The  hull  was  of  exquisite  mold,  with 
a  clear  run,  bows  sharp  and  snakish, 
rising  with  a  gentle  sheer. 

'•The  taper  spars  raked  well  aft,  and 
the  yards,  though  long,  and  spreading  a 
large  amount  of  canvas,  harmonized 
exactly  with  the  outer  portions  of  the 
vessel. 

"All  combined,  she  was  the  prettiest 
thing  that  ever  attempted  to  run  Uncle 
Sam's  blockade. 

"I  had  cleared  from  Liverpool  with 
an  assorted  cargo  for  Nassau,  and  from 
there  I  watched  mj'  chance,  finally  slip- 
ping into  Charleston  without  so  much 
as  sighting  a  cruiser.  You  see  they  had 
all  been  blown  off  shore  in  a  heavy  gale, 
and  left  the  coast  clear. 

"  You  may  depend  the  cloths,  medical 
stores,  ammunition,  small  arms,  and  a 
thousand  notions  found  a  ready  market 
with  the  rebs,  and  it  hurt  my  conscience 
to  seethe  rich  goods  tumbling  out  on 
Palmetto  wharf;  but  I  had  to  live,  you 
see,  sol  loa'ded  down  to  the  scupper  with 
cotton,  took  on  a  deck-load,  picked  uiy 
crew,  and  was  all  ready  for  sea. 

"  In  the  offing  beyond  Fort  Sumter  I 
could  see  the  spars  of  the  blockading 
fleet,  and,  confound  'em,  they  did  loom 
up  terrible  large  and  formidable  at  times, 
as  1  6to6d  on  the  battery  taking  them 
all  in  with  my  binocular. 

*■  I  had  dropped  out  into  the  stream, 
waiting  for  a  favorable  sLint,  having  one 
passenger  on  board,  a  Confederate  brig- 
adier, going  over  with  a  batch  of  dis- 
patches from  Jeff  Davia,  for  Louis  Napo- 
leon, who  was  always  heart  and  soul  with 


the  Confederacy,  confound  him.  But  he 
got  his  just  deserts  from  the  Dutchmen 
for  wishing  us  ill-luck,  and  it  served  hiu^ 
riglit. 

"The  right  night  came  at  last.  The 
wind  was  blowing  a  taut  breeze  from  the 
west-south-west  directly  off  shore.  There 
was  no  mooi),  while  the  twinkling  stars 
were^partially  obscured  by  drifting  masses 
of  heavy  clouds,  every  moment  growing 
denser  and  denser.  In  fact,  the  weather 
had  a  decidedly  dirty  appearance; 
the  barometer  was  steadily  falling, 
which,  of  course,  was  all  in  our  favor, 
and  against  the  Joluniy  haal-tauts  keep- 
ing watch  and  ward  in  the  olBng. 

"The  anchor  was  runup  to  the  bow 
and  catted,  sail  made,  all  lights  extin- 
guished, and  the  binnacle  carefully  cov- 
ered up. 

'  Every  precaution  I  could  think  of 
had  been  taken  to  insure  success,  and 
while  the  brigadier  was  busy  securing 
his  papers  and  traps  in  the  cabin,  I 
buttoned  up  my  watch-coat,  acting  as 
my  own  pilot,  which  was  no  small  under- 
taking when  you  understand  that 
beacons,  buoy  and  range-lights  had  all 
been  removed. 

"In  lieu  of  thein  torpedoes  had  been 
planted  thick  as  mustard  seed,  or  weevels 
in  a  barrel  of  hard-tack,  but  I  had  the 
bearings  of  them  all,  you  may  depend. 

"  Heeling  over  to  the  breeze,  we  sped 
rapidly  down  the  main  ship  channel, 
passed  Fort  Sumter,  looming  up  grim 
and  silent,  then  hauled  up  for  Sullivan's 
Island,  yrid  you  may  say  I  was  fairly 
clear  of  the  harbor. 

"  I  heard  the  chimes  in  old  St.  Michaers 
steeple  toll  out  the  hour  of  ten  o'clock, 
and  somehow  it  sounded  dismal  like,  for 
at  any  moment  now  I  might  expect  to 
encounter  a  stray  picket  launch  from  the 
fleet. 

"They  were  awful  dare-devils,  these 
sailors,  and  had  be^n  known  to  comb 
right  up  under  the  walls  of  Sumter. 

"  I  threaded  the  channel  in  safety,  and 
was  headed  east  by  south,  with  the  broad 
Atlantic  before  mc,  and  everything 
drawing  that  could  possibly  be  set  on  the 
Fleetwing. 

"  It  would  have  done  your  eyes  good  to 
have  seen  her  a  clipping  of  it.  I  never 
saw  any  tiling  glide  through  the  water  so 
rapidly  and  make  so  little  fuss.  The 
water  just  rolled  off  from  either  side  of 
the  sharp  cut-water,  dancing  astern, 
leaving  a  broad  wake  of  bubbles  and 
foam  to  mai'k  her  passage. 

"All  hands  were  on  deck,  the  look- 
outs were  doubled,  a  careful  hand  at  the 
wheel,  and  the  log  indicating  ten  and  a 
half  knots  large. 

"We  were  now  getting  the  benefit  of 


28 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


the  full  strength  of  the  breeze,  which 
was  increasing  every  moment,  and 
showers  of  spray  began  to  wet  the  bonnie 
deck-load  of  cotton  worth  almost  its 
weight  in  gold;  but  I  would  not  start, 
tack  or  sheet,  the  spars  were  tough, 
rigging  and  canvas  new,  and  there  would 
be  plenty  of  time  to  take  in  sail  when  I 
felt  assured  that  all  danger  was  well 
astern  of  the  Fleetwing. 

"It  was  intensely  dark;  not  an  object 
con  Id  be  seen,  with  the  exception  of  the 
white  caps  forming  the  crests  of  the 
waves  as  they  heaved  up  in  the  gloom, 
hissing  and  frothing  in  impotent  fury, 
at  times  striking  us  under  the  counter 
with  terrific  force,  lifting  the  stern 
bodily  from  the  sea,  and  depiessing  the 
bows  in  a  corresponding  manner,  while 
the  brig  almost  flew  over  the  boiling 
surges. 

"  Suddenly,  the  mate  from  the  fore- 
castle hailed: 

"  '  Light  right  ahead,  sir!' 

"  'Confound  it,  Mr.  Barnes,  I  am  not 
deaf.  Be  careful  of  your  voice,  sir,  or 
you'll  have  a  swarm  of  shells  a-bostin' 
around  our  ears  worse  than  so  many 
yaller-headed  hornets.  Form  a  line,  lads, 
from  the  break  of  the  house  to  the 
forecastle,  and  pass  the  word  along 
promptly. 

"  I  was  getting  warmed  up  to  the  work, 
while  the  brigadier  figeted  about  on  the 
lee  side  of  the  quarter-deck  like  a  fish 
out  of  the  water. 

"  '  Light  on  the  starboard  bow!  Light 
on  the  port  bow!  Light  to  leeward!  And 
lights  to  windward!'  was  reported  in 
rapid  succession,  and  confound  it,  for  a 
moment  it  looked  as  if  there  was  noth- 
ing but  lights  all  around  us.  But  it  was 
too  late  to  back  out;  it  was  neck  or  noth- 
ing with  the  Fleetwing,  and  I  hustled 
up  and  down  that  quarter-deck  pretty 
lively,  I  can  tell  you,  with  the  lights 
growing  brighter  every  moment,  and 
flashing  in  my  eyes  in  a  sort  of  semi- 
circle. 

"  Go  which  way  I  would,  I  had  got  to 
run  between  some  of  'em,  and  I  made  up 
my  mind  that  Uncle  Sam  would  soon  be 
expendin'  some  shots  and  burnin'  gun- 
powder. 

"  A  low  cry  from  the  brigadier  who  was 
gazing  intently  to  leeward,  followed  by  a 
hoarse  yell,  and  the  report  of  a  rifle,  the 
ping  of  the  ball  whistling  in  uncomf6rt- 
able  proximity  to  my  ear,  made  me  cut 
a  pretty  lively  pigeon  wing,  I  can  tell  j^ou. 

"Dodging  down  to  leeward,  I  looked 
in  the  direction  pointed  out  by  the  sol- 
dier. I  just  caught  a  glimpse  of  an  in 
distinct  object  disappearing  in  the  gloom 
and  mist  of  the  gathering  gale.  It  looked 
like  a  boat,  and  I  presume  it  was,  but  I 


could  not  swear  to  it,  and  you  may  depend 
I  did  not  stop  to  inquire. 

"  The  next  instant  a  train  of  glittering 
sparks  rose  with  a  rush  above  the  dark 
horizon.  A  cluster  of  colored  stars  hov- 
ered on  high  for  a  moment,  then  all  was 
dark  as  before.  But  Lord  love  ye,  you 
have  no  idea  what  an  effect  that  cussed 
rocket  had.  They  commenced  going  up 
in  all  directions,  like  an  exhibition  of 
fireworks  on  a  Fourth  of  Jul}'  celebra- 
tion. Occasionally  I  could  hear  the 
muffled  roar  of  a  gun,  and  as  I  com- 
menced to  get  into  the  midst  of  the  muss, 
I  almost  wished  myself  back  safe  along- 
side the  wharf. 

"The  lee  braces  were  now  checked  in 
slightly,  and  the  course  of  the  brig 
changed  so  as  to  pass  under  the  stern  of 
a  large  frigate,  so  I  judged  her  from  the 
row  of  blazing  lights  flashing  through 
the  open  ports,  while  all  was  bustle  and 
activity  on  her  decks. 

"  We  passed  not  a  cable's  length  from 
her  spanker  boom,  and  I  could  distinctly 
see  the  battle-lanterns  triced  up  in  the 
riggings^  but  fortunately  we  escaped 
her  notice,  for  one  gun  of  her  broadside 
would  have  been  sufficient  to  have 
knocked  all  the  profits  out  of  the  Fleet- 
wing's  cargo. 

"  I  now  took  my  station  on  the  top- 
gallant forecastle,  where  I  could  see  bet- 
ter what  was  going  on  around  me. 

"  '  Luff,'  I  muttered  as  my  eye  caught 
a  dark,  indistinct  mass  ahead,  which  I 
knew  full  well  could  be  nothing  but  a 
blockader.  Naught  was  now  heard  but 
the  roaring  and  whistling  of  the  gale  as  it 
tore  through  the  rigging,  causing  the 
pitch  pine  spars  to  sway  backward  and 
bend  like  whip-handles.  I  was  forced  to 
let  the  royals  and  flying  jib  be  taken  in, 
which  was  done  as  quietly  as  possible. 
The  next  moment  and  we  were  in  close 
proximity  to  the  second  watch-dog. 

"This  time  we  were  compelled  to  cross 
the  bow  of  the  man-o'-war,  and  the  end 
of  her  jib-boom  seemed  to  be  terribly 
close  to  us  as  we  tore  by.  The  low  boom 
of  breakers  to  leeward  could  Qccasionally 
be  heard  booming  above  the  wash  of  the 
sea  under  our  bows,  which  made  a  noise 
not  unlike  the  roaring  of  Niagara. 

"  I  could  almost  see  the  forefoot  of  the 
vessel  of  war  as  she  rode  to  her  anchors, 
rising  and  falling,  rolling  and  wallowing 
in  the  trough  of  the  Atlantic. roll.  In 
another  instant  we  were  lapping  her 
bows,  and  rushing  by  with  the  speed  of 
a  race-horse. 

"  We  were  so  close  that  the  lights  fr«m 
her  lanterns  streamed  across  our  deck, 
and  I  can  tell  you  that  those  bales  of 
cotton  looked  terrible  small  in  my  eyes 
as  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  some  three  hun- 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


29 


dred  beads  peeping  above  the  hammock 
nettings  and  tlirough  the  open  ports. 
A  sudden  commotion  was  apparent,  a 
hail  came  faintly  to  my  ears,  and  just  as 
the  gleam  of  the  cabin-lamps  shot  out 
through  the  stern  ports,  I  saw  a  flash, 
followed  by  the  rush  of  a  round-shot  as 
it  tore  through  the  spanker. 

"  The  man  at  the  vvheel  could  not  stand 
that;  it  was  too  much  for  his  nerves;  the 
wheel  slipped  from  his  grasp  as  he 
stretched  himself  at  full  length  on  deck, 
while  the  brig  shot  up  into  the  wind 
with  everything  shaking  and  snapping 
like  a  white  squall  on  a  spree. 

*•  Well,  now  you  can  just  bet  it  did  not 
take  this  old  man  long  to  get  aft,  and  in 
less  time  than  it  takes  to  relate  it,  I  had 
the  wheel  myself,  and  the  Fleetwing  pay- 
ing off,  while  shot  and  shell  were  flying 
around  just  as  if  the  people  had  not  been 
taxed  to  death  to  furnish  the  cussed 
things.  But  I  reokon  the  old  brig  knew 
her  danger  as  well  as  her  master,  for 
such  getting  up  and  getting  I  never  saw 
before.  I  looked  aloft  a  little  anxiously, 
but  beyond  some  rents  in  the  canvas,  a 
rope  cut  here  and  there  we  had  escaped 
the  dose  without  suffering  materially. 

"But  the  worst  was  yet  to  come,  and  I 
must  confess  1  felt  my  hair  curl  as  I  took 
it  all  in.  You  see,  the  blockaders  had 
dumped  a  of  lot  tar  barrels  overboard,  all 
a-blazin'  and  in  every  direction  they 
were  boboin'  about,  lighting  up  the  en- 
tire scene,  and  of  course  revealin'  us  to 
their  gaze,  while  they  amused  them- 
selves by  training  their  cussed  guns  on 
us.  But  a  vessel  under  way,  pitchin'  and 
rolliu\  is  a  very  uncertain  mark,  and  al- 
though I  calculated  that  close  upon  two 
ton  of  solid  iron  and  fully  as  much  gun- 
powder was  burned,  we  did  not  suffer 
any  damage  to  speak  of,  and  I  hung  to 
it  through  all. 

"Directly  to  windward,  and  coming 
down  upon  with  a  most  vicious-looking 
bone  in  his  mouth,  was  a  sloop-of-war, 
and  at  every  plunge  she  made  I  could  see 
the  spray  fly  clean  over  the  foreyard. 
She  was  under  all  sail,  her  guns  run  out, 
with  the  crew  all  mustered  at  quarters. 
I  thought  for  a  moment  she  would  run 
clean  over  us,  and  my  heart  was  in  my 
mouth. 

"Bang!  came  a  bow-chaser,  and  you 
ought  to  have  seen  the  splinters  fly  from 
the  tough  old  mainmast.  The  shot 
grazed  it,  taking  out  a  good  sized  chunk, 
then  slid  over  to  leeward  and  buried 
itself  harmlessly  in  the  bosom  of  a  big 
sea.  But  the  old  stick  never  budged, 
despite  the  wound  it  had  sustained. 

"Then  it  was  that  the  brigadier  came 
to  me,  his  face  looking  white  in  the  faint 
glare  of  the  binnacle. 


"  '  Captain,  we  are  about  to  be  cai>- 
tured,'  he  said. 

"  '  Who  says  so?'  I  demanded,  carefully 
watching  the  distance  between  me  and 
the  sloop-of-war. 

"  'Why  sir,  can't  you  see  for  yourself? 
We  are  right  under  the  guns  of  that 
Yankee  sloop-of-war!  Curse  the  luck!  1 
am  in  for  it,  and  I  must  destroy  my 
papers.  I  wish  I  had  never  taken  pas- 
sage on  your  old  tub!'  and  he  ground  the 
heel  of  his  boot  into  the  deck  with  rage 
as  he  turned  to  go  below. 

"I  had  no  time  to  answer  the  darned 
saucy  rebel,  although  1  was  near  enough 
to  have  knocked  the  gray-coated  critter 
clear  over  the  taflfrail. 

"Another  shot  tore  clean  through  the 
foresail,  driving  the  mate  and  all  hands 
off  of  the  forecastle,  and  I  saw  them  crawl- 
ing behind  the  cotton  bales  for  protec- 
ion,  like  Jackson  and  his  men,  when 
they  whipped  the  Britishers  at  New 
Orleans. 

••  I  was  just  worked  up,  I  tell  you,  and 
felt — oh.  Lord!  how  I  felt — as  I  put  the 
wheel  down,  bringing  the  Fleetwing  to 
the  wind,  with  the  guns  of  the  sloop 
covering  me  as  she  sagged  off  to  leeward. 

"A  fierce  squall  of  rain  at  this  moment 
swept  over  the  vessel,  the  rush  of  the 
rain  pattering  like  hailstones  as  it  poured 
on  the  deck.  The  tar-barrels  had  died 
out,  the  man-of-war  was  hailing  me, 
looming  up  to  the  leeward  like  an  old 
shapeless  building. 

"'I  surrender!' I  yelled.  'Come  and 
take  us,  for  1  believe  the  brig  is  sinking 
sure.  Only  don't  fire  any  more  of  those 
cussed  balls  this  way.  You  might  hurt 
somebody.' 

"  I  heard  the  indistinct  roll  of  a  drum, 
the  chirp  of  a  boatswain's  whistle,  as  some 
boat  was  called  away,  then  the  obscure 
mass  disappeared  entirely  from  sight  as 
the  gloom  of  the  squall  settled  down 
thicker  and  thicker. 

"Now  is  our  time,  I  thought.  At  all 
events  it  will  do  no  harm  to  trv.  It  will 
take  some  time  for  the  man-of-war  to 
pick  up  the  boat's  crew,  so  here  goes. 

"  The  main  yard  of  the  Fleetwing  had 
been  laid  aback  when  we  hove  to,  but  it 
did  not  take  me  more  than  two  minutes 
to  kick  those  cussed  skulkers  from  out 
between  the  cotton-bales.  The  braces 
were  manned,  j'ards  laid  square,  and 
away  we  went  again  with  my  shoulder 
to  the  wheel.  Glancing  astern,  I  saw 
rocket  after  rocket  going  up,  but  they 
might  just  as  well  have  saved  the  pooty 
things — I  paid  no  further  ^attention  to 
them. 

"'Light  oh — right  ahead!'  roared  the 
lookout  frantically 

"'The  devil  th-^re  is!' I   muttered,  as 


30 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


I  surrendered  the  wheel  to  a  sailor,  and 
hastened  forward  to  to  see  what  the 
character  of  the  etrauger  wivs. 

"Hastening  on  to  the  forecastle,  I  took 
one  look— and  it  was  enough. 

"  We  were  right  on  top  of  the  man-of- 
war  schooner  that  lay  at  anchor  directly 
in  our  path.  At  the  speed  we  were  ruu- 
nin<i-,  tiiere  was  no  time  to  shift  tlie  wiieel 
or  ia  the  slightest  degree  alter  the  course 
of  the  brig.  With  the  speed  and  fury  of 
a  shark  in  pursuit  5f  its  prey,  The  Fleet- 
wiug  was  almost  leaping  from  wave  to 
wave. 

"  The  battle-lanterns  were  swingmg  to 
and  fro  in  the  rigging,  and  I  caught  the 
glitit  uf  a  long-torn  in  the  imsteady  rays 
as  it  was  pivoted  amidships. 

"The  watch  on  deck  had  evidently 
seen  us,  but  demoralized  with  terror, 
were  unable  or  powerless  to  help  them- 
selves, as  they  ran  aimlessly  about  the 
deck. 

"With  a  terrible  shock  we  struck  the 
unfortunate  schooner  almost  amidships, 
taking  me  clean  off  my  feet,  our  thin, 
wedge-like  cut-water  and  sharp,  slim 
bows  cutting  through  her  like  a  knife. 

"A  yell  of  agony,  mingled  with  the 
grinding  and  crushing  of  woodwork  rang 
in  my  ears  as  I  scrambled  out  of  the  lee 
scuppers,  then  all  was  still  save  the 
whistle  of  the  wind,  and  the  flapping  of 
torn  and  tattered  canvas.  We  were 
alone  upon  the  foaming  waters,  with 
only  here  and  there  a  phosphorescent 
patch  of  shooting  streaks  of  light  dart- 
ing hither  and  thither  as  some  denizen  of 
the  deep  played  in  sportive  circles  about 
us. 

"Not  a  vessel  or  a  vestige  of  the  block- 
ading fleet  could  be  seen,  and  I  nmst  ad- 
mit I  felt  grateful  for  that  fact.  My  neck 
felt  verv  uhcomfortable,  and  it  was 
months  'before  the  terrible  cry  ceased  to 
haunt  mv  dreams. 

"  I  would  have  averted  the  awful  ca- 
tastrophe if  I  could,  but  it  was  not  to 
be.  They  dieil  like  men  at  their  post  of 
duty,  and  another  tiihe  their  fate  might 
have  been  mine. 

"JBut  perhaps  I  didn't  express  myself  to 
the  brigadier  when  the  danger  was  all 
over!  I  bad  not  forgot  his  sharp  words 
about  cruising  onboard  of  my  old  tub, 
as  he  expressed  it. 

"He  was  meek  and  lowly  enough  the 
balance  of  the  passage,  and  when  I  had 
landed  him  safe  at  Liverpool  he  would 
have  hugged  me;  but  1  kept  him  at  his 
distance.  1  never  did  like  a  rebel,  and  I 
have  always  considered  that  this  govern- 
ment was  by  far  too  lenient  in  settling 
up  with  thein  cusses.  If  I  had  had  the 
figuring  of  the  trial  balance  I  would  have 
added  up  a  fardiflferent  result. 


"  But  come,  neighbors,  fill  yourglasses. 
My  throat  is  as  dry  as  a  herring,  talking 
so  much,  and  this  jug  of  punch  is  un- 
common good.  We'll  drink  to  the  Ameri- 
can Unipn,  Free  Trade,  and  Sailors 
Rights." — Newark  paper. 


The  Glothes-Line  Telegraph. 


In  the  early  part  of  1&63,  when  the 
Union  army  was  encamped  at  Fal- 
mouth, and  picketing  the  banks  of  the 
Rap[>ahaunock,  the  utmost  tact  and  in- 
genuity were  displayed,  by  the  scouts 
and  videttes,  in  gaining  a  knowledge  of 
contemplated  movements  on  the  other 
side;  and  here,  as  at  other  various  times, 
the  shrewdness  of  the  African  camp 
utteiidants  was  very  remarkable. 

One  circumstance  in  particular  shows 
how  quick  the  race  are  in  learning  the 
art  of  communicating  by  signals. 

There  came  into  the  Union  lines  a  negro 
from  a  farm  on  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  known  by  the  name  of  Dabney, 
who  was  found  to  possess  a  remarkably 
clear  knowledge  of  the  topography  of  the 
whole  -region;  and  he  was  employed  as 
cook  and  body  servant  at  headquarters. 

When  he  first  saw  our  system  of  arniy 
telegraphy,  the  idea  interested  hiiu  in- 
tensely, and  he  begged  the  operators  to 
explain  the  signs'to  him. 

They  did  so,  and  found  that  he  could 
understand  and  remember  the  meaning 
of  the  various  movements  as  well  as  any 
of  his  brethren  of  paler  hue. 

Not  long  a<ter,  his  wife,  who  had  come 
with  him,  expressed  a  great  anxiety  to 
be  allowed  to  go  over  to  the  other  side  as 
a  servant  to  a  "secesh  woman."  whom 
General  Hooker  was  about  sending  over 
to  her  friends. 

The  request  was  granted.  Dabney's 
wife  went  across  the  Rappahannock,  and 
ia  a  few  days  wjis  duly  installed  as 
laundress  at  the  headqwarters  of  a  prom- 
inent rebel  general. 

Dabney,  her  hnabaud,  on  the  north 
bank,  was  soon  found  to  be  wonderfully 
well  informed  as  to  all  the  rebel  plans. 

Within  an  hour  of  the  time  that  a 
movement  of  any  kind  was  projected,  or 
even  discussed,  among  the  rebel  generals. 
Hooker  knew  all  about  it. 

He  knew  which  corps  was  moving,  or 
about  to  move,  in  what  direction,  how 
long  thev  had  been  on  the  march,  and 
in  what'  force;  and  all  this  knowledge 
came  througn  Dabney,  and  his  reports 
always  turned  out  to  be  true. 

Yet  Dabnev  was  never  absent,  and 
never  talked  with  the  scouts,  and  seemed 


CAPTAIN  JACK. 


to  he  always  taken  up  with  his  duties  as 
uuok  and  f:;ro()ni  about  hea(!quarters. 

iiow  he  obta.iue<l  his  ijf'oruiatioa  re- 
juained  for  some  time  a  puzzle  to  the 
Union  officers. 

At  I'.'Mf^th,  upon  much  solicitation,  he 
iiMlui'UMi  his  niarvelous  secret  to  one  of 
our  tjflicers. 

TaKin<r  hiiu  to  a  point  where  a  clear 
view  t'oulil  be  obtained  of  Fredericks- 
burg, he  pointed  out  o.  little  c;tbin  in  tlie 
subuibs  near  the  river  bank,  and  ;tsked 
him  *f  he  saw  that  clothes-line  with 
clothes  on  it  to  dry. 

"  W  eli,"  said  he,  "that clothes-line  tells 
me  in  lialf  an  hour  just  what  fjoes  on  at 
life's  headquarters.  You  see  my  wife 
over  *here;  she  washes  for  the  officers 
and  cooivs,  and  waits  arounvl,  and  as  .soon 
as  she  hears  about  any  movement  or  any- 
vliinfj  ^oino:  on,  she  comes  down  and 
mover  the  clothes  on  that  line  so  I  can 
understand  it  in  a  miini'.e.  Tliat  there 
fjcray  shirt  is  Lonjzstreet;  and  wlien  she 
takes  it  off,  it  means  lie's  iione  down 
about  Richmond.  That  white  sliirt 
means  Hill;  and  when  she  moves  it  up 
CO  ths  Vest  end  of  the  line,  Hill's  corps 


has  moved  np  stream.  That  red  one  i.-< 
Stonewall.  He's  down  on  the  right  now, 
and  if  he  moves,  she  will  move  that  red 
shirt." 

One  morninj^  Dabney  came  in  and  re- 
ported a  movement  over  there. 

"  But,"  says  he,  *'it  don't  amount  to 
anything:.    They'reonly making  believe." 

An  officer  went  out  to  look  at  the 
clothes-line  telegraph  through  his  field- 
glass. 

There  had  been  quite  a  shifting  over 
there  among  the  army  flannels. 

"But  how  do  you  know  but  there  is 
something  in  it?" 

"Do  j'ou  see  those  two  blankets  pinned 
together  at  the  bottom?"  said  Dabney. 

"  Yes;  but  what  of  it?"  said  the  officer. 

"Why,  that's  her  way  of  making  a 
Ssh  trap;  and  when  she  pins  the  clothes 
together  that  way,  it  means  that  Lee  is 
only  trying  to  draw  us  into  his  fish-trap." 

As  long  as  the  two  armies  lay  watch- 
ing each  other  on  opposite  banks  of  the 
stream.  Dabney,  with  his  clothes-line 
telegrapiv.  continued  to  be  one  of  the 
promptest  and  most  reliable  of  Greneral 
Hooker's  scouts. 


I 

i 


THE  GEM  LIBRARY 

Contains  the  best  stories  that  can  be  procured.  It  is  Original;  full  of  Thrill- 
ing Adventures  and  Stirring  Scenes.  It  contains  Detective  Stories,  War  Storiai, 
Frontier  Stories,  Indian  Stories — all  by  the  best  American  authors. 

EVERY  BOOK  IS  00M:I>LETE. 


CA.T^LOGTJE. 

....  EARLE  LYNDON,  THE  SHADOW ;  or,  Trailing  the  King  of  the  Smugglers.    By  B«»u 

Brocade. 
.   . .  THE  SILENT  AVENGER  ;  or,  The  Fate  of  the  Crooked  Nine.     By  M.  Y.  Hand. 
„ .. .  JERRY,  THE  WEASEL ;  or.  The  Boy  Spy's  Mission.     By  Louis  Bernard. 

, .  COOL  NED,  THE  CYCLONE ;  or,  The  Road  Agent's  Doom.     By  Ne<l  Buntllng. 
, . . «  HUMAN  W0LVE8 ;  or,  The  Boy  Ventriloquist.    By  Major  Downing. 

THE  TWINS'  STRUGGLES ;  or,  On  the  Road  to  Fortune.     By  Lieutenant  Atkinson. 

,...  THE  CREOLE'S  TREACHERY;  or,  Titus  the  Scout's  Faithful  Servant.    By  T.  F. 

Johnson. 
....  RICK,  THE  WAIF;  or.  The  Young  Fisherboy  Sleuth-hound.    By  T.  P.  Jamet. 

BURT,  THE  HERO  ;  or,  Adventures  of  a  Plucky  Boy.    By  James  Franklin  Fife. 

....  CAVALRY  CURT  ;  or,  The  Wizard  of  the  Army.  By  G.  Waldo  Browne. 
....  SAM,  THE  WHARF-RAT  ;  or,  Outwitted  by  a  Boy.  By  Louis  Bernard. 
....  LARKE,  THE  LAWYER  SHADOW ;  or,  The  Haunted  Ranch  on  the  Prairie.    By  Bme 

Brocade. 
....  GIANT  PETE,  THE  TRAILER ;  or.  Saved  by  a  Mh»cle.    By  Colonel  Znri. 
....  UNDER  TWO  FLAGS ;  or.  His  Life  for  His  Honor.    A  sequel  to  *♦  Cavalry  Curt."    By 

G.  Waldo  Browne. 
....  MOLL,  THE  TIGRESS  ;  or,  Foiled  by  a  Boy  Detective.    By  Major  A.  F.  Orant 
....  TED,  THE  BANTAM  DETECTIVE  ;  or,  Downing  the  Sharpers.    By  George  B.  Le«c 
....  DICK,  THE  BOY  ENGINEER ;   or,  On  the  Right  Track.     By  W.  A.  Hickson. 
....  THROUGH  THE  EARTH ;  or.  Mystery  of  an  Unknown  World.    By  Carl  C.  Buflum, 
...  ROSS,  THE  MIDDY  ;  or,  The  Secret  of  the  Cliff.     By  Mark  Frobisher. 
....  STEEL  GRIP,  THE  INVINCIBLE ;  or,  Two  of  the  Finest.     By  Ned  Buntllng. 
....  DICK'  DANPORTH,  the  Loyal  Scout  of  Tennessee.    By  Major  A  F.  Grant. 
....  MISSOURI  BILL'S  TRUST ;  or,  The  Young  Reporter  of  'Frisco.    By  T.  P.  James. 
...  CAPTAIN  JACK,  THE  UNION  SPY :  or,  In  Vicksburg  and  Out.     By  Harold  T.  Gray, 
...  SHARP  HART  IN  ST.  LOUIS;    or,  Playhig  for  Big  Stakeg.     By   Major  Walt®x 

Downing. 
....  GEN.  DIXON'S  BOY  AIDE ;  or,  Ned  Trinker  in  the  Army.    By  Lieut.  W.  Atkhison. 
....  MARK  LEMON,  THE  YOUNG  ENGINEER ;  or.  True  Yankee  Grit.    By  T.  P.  James. 
....  FARRAGUT'S  SCOUT  RINGLETS;  or.  The  Brand  of  the  Mississippi.    By  Cal  Do 

Castro. 
....  HARVEY  DAYRE,  THE  SPY  ;  or,  Tracked  for  His  Life.    By  Major  A.  F.  Grant. 
e . . .  AT  BAY  IN  A  CAVERN;  or,  After  Big  Game.    By  Lieut.  W.  H.  Atkinson. 
....  BRUCE  HARDY  ON  DECK :  or,  A  Hero  for  Uncle  Sam.    By  Morris  Redwmg. 
....  LIEUT.  GEORGE  TRELLEN;  or,  A  Tricky  Union  Boy.    By  George  B.  Wilson. 
....  THE  GUNBOAT  BOYS ;  or,  Harry  and  Artie  Among  the  Guerrillas.     By  Arthur 

Rankin. 
....  CRAFTY  JACK  HARPER ;  or,  A  Scout  That  Is  a  Scout.    By  T.  P.  James. 
....  SLIPPERY  MILT,  THE  SCOUT ;  or,  Running  the  Gauntlet  of  Island  No.  10.    By  Lieut.. 

Henry  Downs. 
....  WALTER  COLLIER'S  PLUCK ;  or,  Down  the  Missigsippl  in  a  Yacht.     By  W.  H- 

Atkinson. 

We  will  send,  postage  paid,  any  of  the  above  books  on  receipt  of  5  cents 
each.     The  complete  set — 35  titles  in  all — will  be  sent,  postage  paid,  for  60  cents. 
Do  not  neglect  this  chance  to  get  thirty-five  splendid  stories  for  such  a  small  sum. 
HA^I^TZ  &  GMl.A.^^,  Box  ^O^T^JSg-w  Y^or-k,  N.Y". 

MMm  COLLECTION 


